A powerful explosion in a Hyundai i20 car near Delhi's Red Fort on November 10 killed nine people and injured over 20, authorities said. The blast, linked to a Faridabad terror module involving radicalized doctors, was carried out by suspected suicide bomber Dr. Umar Nabi Bhat. Investigations point to ammonium nitrate explosives, with the probe now handed to the National Investigation Agency.
The explosion occurred around 6:52 pm on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Marg, near the Red Fort, when the i20 detonated at a traffic signal, gutting over a dozen vehicles and causing chaos in the busy Chandni Chowk area. Delhi Police received distress calls from a constable at the Red Fort post and a commuter, leading to an FIR at Kotwali station under UAPA sections 16/18, Explosive Substances Act 3/4, and BNS sections for murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy.
Investigators suspect Dr. Umar Nabi Bhat, a 34-year-old Pulwama resident and assistant professor at Al-Falah University's School of Medical Sciences in Faridabad, was driving the car laden with 60-70 kg of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators. The device likely detonated accidentally due to panic after raids on the terror module. Bhat, linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad handlers in PoK via encrypted apps, was the kingpin of a 'white-collar' group of radicalized doctors including Dr. Muzammil Ganai, Dr. Adeel Rather, and Dr. Shaheen Saeed.
The module was busted hours before the blast during a joint J&K-Haryana operation, recovering 2,900 kg of explosives and two AK-47s from locations in Faridabad and Pulwama. Nine suspects have been arrested, with more detained for questioning. Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed NIA to submit a report urgently and match DNA from blast site bodies.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased family, Rs 5 lakh for temporary disability, Rs 2 lakh for grievous injuries, and Rs 20,000 for minor ones. Victims included e-rickshaw driver Jumman Khan (35), shopkeeper Nauman Ansari (21), cab driver Pankaj Saini (22), pharmacist Amar Kataria (34), and others identified via clothes and tattoos. Anxious families waited at Lok Nayak Hospital, where injured like Vinay Pathak (65) underwent surgery.
The i20 entered Delhi via Badarpur toll at 8:03 am, roamed for 11 hours, parked at T-5 near Red Fort from 3:19 pm, and exploded after leaving at 6:48 pm. Sources hint at military-grade explosives based on blast intensity.