Police and intelligence agencies have uncovered a “white-collar” terror network made up of radicalised professionals many of them doctors during recent raids in Srinagar, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Shopian and Faridabad.
Investigators looking into the Red Fort car blast in Delhi, which killed 9 people and injured more than 20, have traced the roots of the suspected terror network of doctors to two Telegram groups i.e. Farzandan-e-Darul Uloom (Deoband) and another group reportedly run by Umar bin Khattab, a Jaish-e-Mohammad operative based in Pakistan. According to reports, Dr. Umar Nabi, who is one of the main accused, and Imam Irfan Ahmad Wagah from Shopian, first came in contact through one of these groups. Their chats initially focused on issues like Kashmir’s freedom movement and the alleged mistreatment of Kashmiris, but later turned towards global jihad and revenge against India.
Officials told CNN-News18 that the main group members, including two female doctors from Srinagar and Anantnag, were deeply influenced by Maulvi Irfan, a cleric who allegedly radicalised them while working at a hospital in Kashmir.
Sources also told the publication that Maulvi Irfan introduced the group to extremist ideas such as the concept of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, while spreading hatred against Hindus. The members were encouraged to build “sleeper cells” across India, recruit others, and grow their network quietly.
Both women had completed their MBBS degrees from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh and came into contact with Maulvi Irfan during their internship in Srinagar, a period that investigators now describe as the “turning point” in their radicalisation.
Investigators also believe that some members met their handlers during trips abroad, especially a visit to Turkey, which is now seen as a turning point in the formation of this terror module.
According to reports, the terror module became more active after its members returned from Turkey. Dr. Muzammil took a job at Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad, while Dr. Adeel was posted in Saharanpur. Other members were reportedly sent to different states to look after recruitment and logistics. Security agencies are now working to identify everyone who was in contact with the group.
Sources told India Today that Dr. Umar, along with Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Shaheen, formed part of a nine to ten-member terror network, which included five to six doctors. The trio allegedly used their medical and professional connections to get materials, make explosives, and coordinate operations for the network.
At the same time, a technical investigation is underway to track communications linked to the Red Fort blast. Investigators are analysing mobile tower data from the area to find out who Dr. Umar contacted between 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm on the day of the explosion — just before he drove the car that later blew up.
As many as 9 people lost their lives and several others were injured when a car exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening. The blast happened just hours after officials recovered around 2,900 kilograms of explosives and ammunition from Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
