New Delhi: Investigating agencies probing the Faridabad terror module and Monday’s Delhi blast that killed at least 10 people have chanced upon two Telegram groups that may have played a key role in the radicalisation of the doctors accused of being involved in the network spanning across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
It is also being suspected that Umar Nabi, the doctor who is suspected to have been driving the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi, and Imam Irfan Ahmad Wagah, the Shopian-based cleric arrested in this case, travelled to Turkey where they met their Pakistani handler from the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
At least three other doctors have been arrested till now. Efforts are now on to find out if they were members of the Farzandan-e-Darul Uloom (Deoband) and Umar bin Khattab groups on Telegram, run by the JeM operative, as Nabi and Wagah were.
The whole radicalisation process apparently started with these groups where the initial conversations were focused on “Kashmir’s Aazadi” and the “suppression of Kashmiris.” The members later shifted to broader themes of global jihad and retribution.
The visit to Turkey was vital as Nabi and Wagah expanded their operations across the country after returning to India. Members were placed at different locations to handle recruitment and logistics, investigators suspect.
Efforts are now on to identify all of those who were in touch with members of the module. Nabi, along with two other doctors – who have been arrested – is reported to have been part of a 9-10 member terror logistics network, comprising five to six doctors. The arrested doctors are alleged to have exploited their professional positions to procure materials, assemble explosives and coordinate operations for the network. Their profession acted as a shield against too much scrutiny.
Nabi used to work at a hospital in Anantnag, but lost his job there after the death of a patient. He then joined the Al-Falah School of Medical Science in Faridabad in 2023.
Mobile tower data around the Red Fort is being scanned to determine who Nabi was in contact with between 3.00 pm to 6.30 pm on the day of the blast, before moving towards the place of occurrence.
Investigators have also come to know that Wagah is a former paramedic who worked at Srinagar’s Government Medical College, An ex-imam from Nowgam, he is believed to have lured medical professionals toward radical Islam. His wife has also been detained for being part of the racket.
