Delhi Red Fort blast case: AK-47 bought for more than Rs 5 lakh, deep freezer used for explosives; multi-layer handler network exposed

Intelligence agencies investigating the November 10 Delhi terror attack involving a suicide car blast have uncovered fresh details pointing to a wider transnational terror network a structured chain of handlers and preparations for multiple coordinated attacks official sources told ANIAt least 15 people were killed and several others were injured in the car blast near the Red Fort in the national capital Dr Umar Nabi driving the car with explosives committed the attackThe four other main accused Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama Jammu and Kashmir Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag Jammu and Kashmir Dr Shaheen Saeed of Lucknow Uttar Pradesh and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian Jammu and Kashmir have been taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency NIAAccording to intelligence sources the accused Muzammil who was arrested after over 2500 kgs of ammonium nitrate were recovered in Faridabad had purchased an AK47 rifle for more than Rs 5 lakh which was later recovered from Adeels lockerThis weapon purchase is a critical link It reflects the level of preparation and financing behind the module an intelligence agency source saidSources further revealed that each accused in the module was reporting to a different handlerMuzammils handler was separate while blastaccused Umar was reporting to anotherTwo key handlers Mansoor and Hashim were operating under a senior handler believed to be supervising the modules overall activitiesThese handlers were operating in layers an official saidIntelligence sources confirmed that in 2022 Muzammil Adeel and another accused Muzaffar Ahmad travelled to Turkey on the instructions of an individual named Okasa who is associated with the TehrikiTaliban Pakistan TTPThey were supposed to be routed to Afghanistan through a contact in TurkeyBut after keeping them waiting for nearly a week the handler backed out a source saidInvestigators found that Okasa communicated with Muzammil through a Telegram IDTheir communication intensified after Muzammil asked him about his handlerIntelligence officials said Umar had been studying bombmaking videos manuals and opensource content onlineHe procured chemical ingredients from Nuh and electronic components from Bhagirath Palace and Faridabads NIT MarketHe also bought a deep freezer to store the chemicals and prepare the explosive mixtureThe freezer was used to stabilise and process the compound a source addedInvestigators have confirmed a serious fight between Muzammil and Umar inside the AlFalah University premises in Faridabad over money an incident witnessed by several studentsFollowing the confrontation Umar handed over his red EcoSport car which already contained explosive material to MuzammilAccording to intelligence agencies the module was planning to store explosives at multiple locations and execute simultaneous attacksAll indicators point to a coordinated multilocation strike plan The recovered material and digital footprint strongly support this assessment a senior intelligence source told ANIFurther investigation is underway to trace the broader network financial channels and international handlers involved in the conspiracyMeanwhile the Delhi High Court on Friday refused to issue directions allowing Red Fort terror attack coaccused Jasir Bilal Wani to meet his lawyer at the National Investigation Agency NIA headquarters Wani is currently in the NIAs custodial remandThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever