New Delhi: The investigation into the Red Fort Metro station blast has now widened into allegations of a “soft conversion” involving an Imphal-based girl who was reportedly given a Muslim identity after coming in contact with key accused Dr Umar, officials familiar with the probe said on Sunday.
The teenager from Imphal was brought to Delhi and allegedly introduced into the accused’s circle under a new religious identity, a News 18 report citing investigators claimed. Agencies claim she later admitted during questioning that her religion had been changed and that she had been given a Muslim name as part of the process. Officials believe the conversion was carried out quietly and gradually, forming part of what they describe as a deeper grooming pattern.
Investigators say Dr Umar played a central role in what they believe was a methodical attempt to draw vulnerable individuals into the network. The girl’s conversion, officials added, appeared designed to weaken her existing social ties and increase her dependence on the group operating around Umar. The investigation into the case details how Umar used his status as a senior faculty member and teacher to pressure students into attending his informal sessions, the News 18 reported.
Sources said the girl was not just a bystander. Her movement from Imphal to Delhi, the alleged change of identity and her interactions with the accused have become key threads in the ongoing investigation. Agencies are examining digital records, travel data and witness accounts to map her entire journey.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is now overseeing the case, is also probing whether the girl’s conversion was an isolated instance or part of a wider pattern of identity manipulation used to aid recruitment and radicalisation efforts.
Officials have reached out to the girl’s family in Manipur, who are cooperating with the probe. Meanwhile, agencies are reviewing protocols on tracking sudden identity changes and interstate movement of at-risk youths, particularly in cases linked to radicalisation.
‘Umar suffered mental health issues?’
The probe has also brought to the fore Umar’s concerning conduct during his radicalisation attempts. According to reports, he was suffering from a psychiatric disorder. This could have been the cause of his erratic behaviour, sources quoted by News 18 claimed.
He pushed a strict, fundamentalist religious agenda, pressuring Muslim students to pray five times a day and adopt a more rigid interpretation of Islam, the News 18 report states. According to the report, he was generally an introvert, his behaviour often erratic, and was known to bully younger students. His temper was infamous and he would frequently clash with his seniors, leading to complaints. Umar’s family has a history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia.
