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New Delhi: In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the deadly Red Fort blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Monday the arrest of Jasir Bilal Wani, alias Danish. Wani is believed to be a close associate of the bomber Dr Umer Nabi, who is the prime accused of the November 10 attack, which claimed 10 lives and injured 32 others.
According to the NIA, Jasir Bilal Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district, allegedly provided specialised technical assistance to the terror module responsible for the attack. This assistance included modifying drones and attempting to construct improvised rockets in the weeks leading up to the blast.
Investigators have identified Wani as an "active co-conspirator" who worked closely with Umer to prepare for the strike that targeted the heart of the national capital.
This latest arrest follows closely on the heels of the NIA's apprehension of Amir Rashid Ali on Sunday, another associate of Dr Umer. The agency described Ali's arrest in Delhi as a "major breakthrough."
Amir, a resident of Samboora in Pampore, is accused of facilitating the purchase of the Hyundai i20 car that was used in the attack, with the vehicle reportedly registered in his name.
Further cementing the details of the attack, the NIA has forensically confirmed that the charred remains recovered from the blast site belong to Dr Umer. He was an assistant professor at Al Falah College of Medical Science and Research Centre. According to the investigation agency, he was simultaneously allegedly affiliated with a Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked terror module that was allegedly planning large-scale attacks across India.
The investigation has also revealed a significant haul of over 2,900 kg of explosives seized last week, which is believed to have thwarted several other planned strikes. In a further discovery on Sunday, the NIA seized another vehicle belonging to Nabi, which is currently undergoing examination for crucial clues and digital evidence.
With Jasir Bilal Wani's arrest, the NIA has intensified its probe, exploring multiple leads to comprehensively map the conspiracy. Agency teams are conducting searches across various states, meticulously following technical trails, and interrogating potential facilitators.
To date, the NIA has examined 73 witnesses, including survivors of the blast, as they strive to identify every individual connected to this terror operation. The agency stated that efforts are actively underway to "uncover the entire ecosystem" that facilitated the attack, indicating that more arrests are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
