Faridabad's Al-Falah University in focus after Delhi blast & 2,900-kg explosive seizure

Officials suspect the Delhi blast and the Faridabad recovery may be part of a larger terror network operating across state lines

A day after a deadly blast in the national claimed 12 lives, a university in Haryana’s Faridabad is in the spotlight over the arrest of doctors linked to the varsity in a suspected terror module.

Dr Umar un Nabi, the man suspected to be driving the i20 that exploded near Red Fort, was employed at the Al-Falah University’s School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre.

Two other doctors – Muzammil Shakeel and Shaheen Saeed, a lady doctor from Uttar Pradesh are also in the headline for their alleged involvement in terror activities and they have links to the varsity as well.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with the Haryana Police – in a major breakthrough on Monday -- recovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and 2,900 kg of IED-making materials, including chemicals, detonators, and wires, from an apartment in Faridabad.

Dr Muzammil and Aadil Rather were arrested in this case.

Shaheen, too, is reportedly a part of the Al-Falah University and closely associated with Muzammil. According to sources cited by CNN-News18, Shaheen was radicalised in a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) drive to set up a women’s brigade for psychological warfare in India. She was overseeing women recruitments for Jaish in India.

Al-Falah University in focus

Founded in 2014 by the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, the university in Dhauj extends across 70 acres and has been UGC-recognised since 2015, with an A grade from NAAC. It additionally operates the 650-bed Al-Falah Hospital.

Authorities are currently investigating the possibility that the university’s laboratories played a role in manufacturing the explosives used in the Red Fort blast, which claimed at least 12 lives on Monday evening.

Officials suspect the Delhi blast and the Faridabad recovery may be part of a larger terror network operating across state lines, sources told ANI.

According to a Times of India report, police said a transnational module tied to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwatul-Hind had allegedly embedded itself within academic and professional circles -- leveraging encrypted channels, charitable fronts and university networks to move funds, radicalise recruits and assemble explosives.

The probe started after threatening JeM posters popped up at several places in Srinagar's Bunpora Nowgam area on October 19.

An FIR was registered under UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, and Arms Act was filed at the Nowgam police station.

The investigation led police to what they termed a “white-collar terror network,” comprising radicalised students and professionals who were reportedly communicating with handlers based in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Muzammil Shakeel was arrested after the Jammu and Kashmir Police linked him to the posters.

His interrogation led the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir police to two rented places in Faridabad and the discovery of a huge cache of explosive material and ammunition.

“Shakeel used to teach at Al-Falah University in Dhauj, Faridabad, and had taken a room on rent there to store his belongings," Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta reportedly said.