Another J&K doctor held in Red Fort blast case

srinThe National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested another doctor and conducted searches across the Valley in connection with the Red Fort blast case.

As per the NIA statement, the doctor has been identified as Dr Bilal Naseer Malla of Baramulla in north Kashmir, who is the eight accused to be arrested in the case. So far, four doctors have been arrested in the case.

The agency said Bilal was nabbed by an NIA team from Delhi after he was found “involved in the conspiracy” behind the terrorist attack.

As per NIA investigations, Bilal had “knowingly harboured the deceased accused, Umar Un Nabi, by providing him logistical support”. The agency said he was also accused of destruction of evidence related to the attack.

The anti-terror agency said it was “working closely with various central and state agencies to unravel all the threads of the conspiracy".

Earlier on Tuesday, agency officials assisted by security personnel conducted searches in Anantnag and Kulgam districts. An official said two of the accused, Dr Adeel Rather and Jasir Bilal Wani, arrested in connection with the “white collar” terror module linked to the Delhi blast, were also brought to the Valley and were present along during the searches. Sources said a search was also conducted in a forest area of Anantnag, where a hideout was suspected.

Officials said Jasir’s residence in Kulgam was also searched by the security agencies. In November, the J&K Police announced the busting of a terror module involving several doctors and spanning several states. Explosives were recovered from the module. It was later found that one of the module members, Dr Umer-un-Nabi from Pulwama was driving the explosives-laden i20 car that blew up near the Red Fort.