India demonstrates firm resolve: A chronology of how agencies cracked Delhi terror attack

New Delhi: Tin containers and other items lie near the spot after a blast occurred in a car near Red Fort. (PTI image)

By swiftly dismantling the Jaish-e-Mohammed module linked to the explosion near the Red Fort, India has given a strong and uncompromising response to terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a stern message from Bhutan said the guilty behind this will be brought to justice.

This success reflects the tireless dedication of our intelligence agencies, security forces, and law-enforcement officers, who work days and night to ensure the safety of our citizens.

The explosion near the Red Fort has ultimately been traced back to an incident involving certain objectionable posters found within the jurisdiction of the Naugam Police Post in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Following that discovery, an FIR was registered on October 19, 2025.

During the course of the investigation, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Waghe was arrested from Shopian, and Zameer Ahmad from Wakura, Ganderbal, between October 20 and 27.

On November 5, 2025, Dr Adeel was apprehended from Saharanpur, and on November 7, 2025, an AK-56 rifle and other ammunition were seized from Anantnag Hospital. Further recoveries of guns, pistols, and explosives were made on 8 November 2025 from Al-Falah Medical College.

During interrogation, information surfaced about other individuals involved in this module, leading to the arrest of Dr Muzzammil from Al-Falah Medical College, Faridabad. Based on these leads, several more arrests were made and a large cache of arms and explosives was recovered.

On November 9, a person known as Madarasi, a resident of Dhauj, Faridabad, was arrested from his house. The following day, November 10, a massive consignment of explosives weighing 2,563 kg was seized from the house of Hafeez Mohammad Ishtiyaq, a resident of Mewat and Imam of the Al-Falah Mosque, located in Dhera Colony, Faridabad.

During the raids, an additional 358 kg of explosive material, detonators, timers, and related components were also seized. In total, about 3,000 kg of explosives and bomb-making equipment were recovered from this module.

One of the members of the group, Dr Umar, who was working at Al-Falah Medical College, managed to escape after the agencies intensified their crackdown.

The car involved in the Red Fort explosion was being allegedly driven by Dr Umar, as indicated by CCTV footage. The material that caused the explosion was the same type of explosive stockpiled in Faridabad, where about 3,000 kg of such substances were recovered. Whether the explosion was pre-planned or accidental will be determined during further investigation.

In essence, India’s security and intelligence agencies have successfully dismantled the Faridabad module, foiling a major conspiracy intended to inflict large-scale damage in the country. Dr Umar’s panic and desperation following the agencies’ successful crackdown appear to have triggered the Red Fort blast. Whether it was deliberate or accidental will become clear later, but it is certain that the incident was an integral part of the same chain of events in which the agencies uncovered a major terror network and seized huge quantities of explosives.

As soon as news of the explosion came in on 10 November 2025, the Delhi Police and other security agencies reached the spot immediately. The Union Home Minister directed the NSG, NIA, and forensic teams to proceed to the site. The injured were promptly shifted to nearby hospitals.

The ownership of the vehicle used in the blast has been confirmed. DNA, explosive residues, and other samples collected from the scene have been sent for forensic examination. The case was handed over to the NIA on 11 November 2025 for a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of this terror module, including its funding and operations.

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Chronology of Key Events

10 November 2025

•     6:55 PM – Blast occurred near the Red Fort Metro Station, Delhi.

•     7:15 PM – Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah spoke to the Delhi Police Commissioner to obtain details.

•     9:00 PM – Home Minister briefed the media about the incident.

•     Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke with the Home Minister and reviewed the situation.

•     9:30 PM – Home Minister visited LNJP Hospital.

•     9:35 PM – Met with the Delhi Police Commissioner and other officials at the hospital.

•     9:45 PM – Visited the injured victims.

•     9:55 PM – Received updates from doctors about the condition of the blast victims.

•     10:10 PM – Addressed the media from the hospital.

•     10:20 PM – Visited the blast site.

11 November 2025

•     11:00 AM – The Home Minister held two consecutive meetings with senior officials.

•     First meeting: Attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director IB, DG NIA, Delhi Police Commissioner, and the J&K DGP (virtually).

•     Second meeting: Attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director IB, DG NSG, DG NIA, Director DFSS, and senior officials of FSL.

•     2:30 PM – The investigation of the Delhi blast was formally handed over to the NIA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a detailed briefing from the Home Minister and continuously reviewed the situation. PM also went directly to LNJP hospital after landing from Bhutan and interacted with the injured.