A devastating blast, which is now suspected to be suicide attack, near Delhi's iconic Red Fort on Monday evening has claimed at least 8 lives and injured over 20 others, thrusting Al-Falah University in Faridabad into the spotlight as investigators uncover a sophisticated "white-collar" terror network involving medical professionals employed there. The explosion, which rocked the area around 6.50 p.m., involved a Hyundai i20 packed with, reportedly, ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators in it.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), leading the probe alongside Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad, faers the attack could be linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and its offshoot, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). Over 2,900 kilograms of explosives, primarily ammonium nitrate - the same chemical suspected to have been used in the blast - were seized from two rented rooms in Faridabad's Dhauj village, rented under the name of a suspect linked to the Al-Falah university. This haul, described as one of the largest in recent years, underscores the module's intent for multiple coordinated strikes.
At the heart of the investigation is Al-Falah University, where several arrested and detained individuals served as doctors and faculty. Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, 35, from Koil village in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, was the first to get arrested. Employed at the university's hospital for over three years, he also taught MBBS students. Authorities recovered 358 kilograms of explosives from his residence, along with arms, establishing his role in stockpiling materials for JeM-linked operations. Ganai's arrest unraveled the network, leading to the detention of his other colleagues. Total 2900 kg of explosives ans materials - used in making a bomb, had been recovered from two of his rented premises in Faridabad.
Dr. Adeel Majeed, from Qazigund in Kulgam district, Kashmir, was nabbed next. Also on Al-Falah's staff, he faced charges after an AK-47 rifle was seized from his possession. Investigators believe he assisted in procuring and distributing bomb-making components across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Umar Mohammad, another Pulwama native from the same village as Ganai, worked at the university's School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre. CCTV footage places him behind the wheel of the explosive-laden car, marking him as the probable suicide bomber. He vanished shortly after Ganai's detention and is presumed dead in the blast, though confirmation awaits forensic results.
Compounding the university's ties, Dr. Shaheen Sayeed (also known as Shaheen Shahid), an assistant professor from Lucknow, was arrested with rifles and ammunition found in her vehicle. Associated with Al-Falah, she allegedly coordinated JeM's women's recruitment wing, Jamaat ul-Mominaat, under Sadia Azhar, sister of JeM founder Masood Azhar. Her mission allegedly focused on radicalising educated women via encrypted social media for logistical support. Sayeed, previously at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Medical College in Kanpur until her 2021 dismissal, is reportedly Ganai's associate and possible good friend.
Raids extended to Sayeed's family: Her brother, Dr. Parvez, an assistant professor at Integral University in Lucknow, had his home searched in connection with the Faridabad explosives cache. In Kashmir, five individuals from Pulwama - including car owner Amir Rashid and his brother - were detained, alongside another doctor, Dr. Sajad. A total of eight arrests, including three Al-Falah doctors, and four additional detentions have occurred across states.
The module's "white-collar" nature - leveraging professionals for cover, has alarmed security agencies, with Pulwama as the operational epicentre. Posters glorifying JeM in Srinagar tipped off the initial bust. As the NIA deepens its inquiry, questions linger on how such a network infiltrated an educational institution. Enhanced surveillance at Al-Falah and similar sites is now underway to expose any hidden module and thwart any other threats.
