SIA arrests Srinagar resident in connection with Red Fort blast

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday arrested a man from the Batamaloo area in connection with the Delhi bomb blast. Police officials said the arrest made in “white collar” terror module in Srinagar city, followed strong leads pointing towards the accused. The man has been identified as Tufail Niyaz Bhat.

Officials stated that Niyaz Bhat is currently under questioning to determine his precise involvement in the module, and said more arrests are likely.

The module was unearthed after Srinagar police began investigating posters threatening security forces that were found pasted on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, in October this year.

The investigation, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, resulted in the arrests of three suspects — Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf and Maqsood Ahmad Dar. CCTV recordings were instrumental in helping police identify the trio.

Interrogation of the three led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam, who allegedly supplied the posters and radicalised the doctors.

The investigation trail then extended to Al Falah University in Faridabad, where Dr Muzzafar Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed were arrested, and where 2,900 kg of explosive material was seized.

Investigators believe that three doctors — Dr Ganaie, Umar Un Nabi, who was driving the explosives-laden car that detonated near the Red Fort on November 10, and Muzzaffar Rather, who is currently absconding — were operating the module. In a video recovered by investigators following the Delhi blast, Umar was seen justifying the suicide bombing.