Forensic teams and national security investigators are zeroing in on a specific three-hour period in a central Delhi parking lot as they work to unravel the final actions of the suicide bomber who killed 15 people near the Red Fort on November 10.
According to a report in TOI, the investigation is being driven by three pivotal questions: where the device was assembled, how it was triggered and whether the attacker was in contact with a handler immediately before the blast. The first of these puzzles is now believed to be closer to being solved.
A precise trail from closed-circuit television footage has led authorities to a parking area near Old Delhi’s Sunehri Masjid. The footage reportedly shows the alleged bomber, Dr Umar Mohammad alias Umar Un Nabi, driving into the lot at 3.19 pm and departing at 6.28 pm.
The bomb detonated just 24 minutes later, at 6.52 pm, in the nearby vicinity. This has prompted the key line of inquiry that Umar may have assembled or finalised the improvised explosive device during that lengthy interval, the TOI report detailed.
Parallel to the immediate investigation into the bombing, a wider and more alarming plot is being uncovered. Police are examining designs and materials that indicate the module, with which Umar was associated, had broader ambitions involving drones and small rockets for future attacks.
As per the investigation, Umar and an associate, Dr Muzammil Shakeel — with whom he later had a falling out over finances — had allegedly tasked an accomplice, Jasir alias Danish, with preparing drones fitted with both cameras and explosives. These were intended for reconnaissance and carrying out attacks. The group was also in the early stages of exploring the use of Hamas-style gliding rockets, sources were cited by TOI as saying.
Trigger mechanism and handler contact remain unclear
While the location of the bomb’s assembly is coming into focus, the mechanics of the attack remain partially opaque. The crucial question of how the device was triggered is expected to be clarified upon receipt of a detailed explosive analysis report from the National Security Guard (NSG) and forensic teams. This technical analysis will subsequently be matched with other findings from the ongoing probe.
The third central question — whether Umar was in contact with an overseas handler on the day of the attack — hinges on complex digital forensic work. Investigators are sifting through internet protocol detail records and data dumps. They have identified approximately 70 active anomalous numbers and are examining potential communications with numbers traced to Turkiye or Afghanistan.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently leading the interrogations of two arrested suspects: Jasir, the alleged drone specialist and Amir, the owner of the car used by the bomber. Their questioning is critical as authorities work to map the full scope of the module’s operations and identify any remaining individuals in the network.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
