Srinagar: Security agencies on Friday demolished the residence of Dr Umar Nabi in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, following his alleged involvement in the recent Red Fort car blast.
Investigators have identified Umar as a key member of a terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). The module was reportedly coordinated by a foreign handler named Ukasa, who served as the primary conduit between the Delhi-based operatives and Pakistan-backed networks.
According to officials, the conspiracy was seeded in Turkey in 2022, where Umar and three associates, also affiliated with JeM and AGuH, spent time in Ankara. The group initially used Telegram for communication before switching to encrypted platforms such as Signal and Session.
“Ukasa guided them on setting up covert cells and avoiding digital footprints,” an officer said.
The module had planned a high-impact, multi-city terror operation involving vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and armed assaults. Three vehicles were procured for the attacks: a Hyundai i20, a red Ford Ecosport, and a Maruti Brezza.
Umar’s Hyundai i20 was detonated near the Red Fort. The Ecosport was recovered in Faridabad, while the Brezza remains under investigation.
Dr Muzammil, a doctor at Al-Falah University and a close associate of Umar, conducted reconnaissance missions around the Red Fort to assess security arrangements. Authorities believe the attack may have been timed to coincide with Republic Day 2026, with Ayodhya’s Ram temple flag hoisting on 25 November also considered a potential target.
Earlier, over 350 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate and traces of RDX, were seized in Faridabad. Security agencies are now working with foreign intelligence partners to trace Ukasa’s digital and financial footprint and dismantle the wider network.