The investigation into the deadly Delhi Red Fort blast took a significant new turn this Saturday with another arrest. The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has arrested Tufail Niyaz Bhat, an electrician from Pulwama, for his alleged link to the “white-collar” terror module. His arrest is tied to the ongoing investigation into the blast that killed ten people. He is now being questioned in detail, and a local CID officer said that “solid evidence” points to his role in planning the explosion. Agencies are trying to find out how deeply he was involved in the organised network.
How Did the Police First Uncover This Module?
The unraveling of this entire operation began not with the blast, but with posters. In mid-October, posters threatening police and security personnel appeared on walls in Srinagar’s Nowgam area. Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Srinagar, led the investigation that tracked down the first three suspects using CCTV footage. The initial arrests were Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir ul Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar. Their questioning gave investigators the key breakthrough, resulting in the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic who became an Imam. He is accused of providing the posters and radicalizing the doctors.
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What Was the Link to the Doctors and the University?
The trail from Kashmir led investigators directly to Al Falah University in Faridabad. It was here that the “white-collar” aspect of the module became clear. The probe led to the arrest of two doctors from the university, Dr. Muzzafar Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed. A massive haul of 2,900 kg of explosive material was recovered at this stage. Investigators now believe a core group of three doctors—Ganaie, suicide bomber Dr. Umar Nabi, and Dr. Muzzaffar Rather, who is currently absconding—were the masterminds behind the entire module.
Who Are the Main Conspirators Now in NIA Custody?
The case has now been taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), marking a major escalation. The NIA formally arrested four main conspirators last Thursday, bringing the total arrests in the case to six. Those in custody are Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganai from Pulwama, Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather from Anantnag, Dr. Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow, and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay from Shopian. A judge at the Patiala House Court granted the NIA ten days of custody for these accused after the agency argued it needed time for thorough questioning to uncover the entire conspiracy.
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What Does the Arrest Signify?
Arresting electrician Tufail Bhat reveals the range of roles in the suspected terror module. The plan may have been directed by educated doctors, but its execution probably required multiple skill sets. An electrician’s involvement suggests technical tasks, perhaps connected to making the explosive used in the Delhi blast. This shows the network had many layers, combining intellectual planning with ground-level technical help.
