Police widen probe in Delhi blast case; several detained in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Police have expanded their investigation into the Delhi car blast that killed 12 people and injured several others on Monday evening. Multiple individuals from South Kashmir have been detained for questioning as part of the probe.

Police sources said that several residents of Pulwama district were taken into custody late Monday night after initial investigations traced the ownership of the vehicle used in the explosion to the region.

A senior police official confirmed that the crackdown began as soon as the car’s registration details were linked to Kashmir. Among those detained are three residents of Samboora village in Pulwama — Amir Rashid (27), Umer Rashid Mir, and Tariq Malik (44), who works as a private security guard.

According to sources, the trio were either directly associated with the car or had connections to Dr Umer un-Nabi, believed to be the prime suspect and the person who was likely driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening.

Investigators said the car’s ownership trail led them to Pulwama after it was discovered that Amir had allegedly provided his Aadhaar card during the vehicle’s purchase.

Police have also detained several family members of Dr Umer and another doctor, Dr Muzamil, both of whom are suspected to be part of a recently busted terror module. Those detained include the doctors’ parents and siblings.

The Red Fort blast occurred just hours after security agencies arrested eight individuals — including three doctors — and seized 2,900 kg of explosives while uncovering a “white-collar” terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). The network is believed to span across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Among those arrested earlier were Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, both affiliated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where 360 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered.

In Kashmir, police officials said the investigation is being further widened to trace the full extent of the network and its operatives.

“All those arrested so far belong to different districts. We are now working to establish their connections and identify others involved. Raids are being carried out at multiple locations,” a senior police officer said.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities not ruling out more detentions in the coming days.