Delhi blast probe: NIA raids 8 places including homes of doctors, cleric in south Kashmir

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted a major coordinated crackdown in the Kashmir Valley, raiding eight locations across south Kashmir in connection with its probe into the recent Red Fort car blast terror attack.

Reports said in the early hours, NIA teams — backed by J&K police and paramilitary forces — struck in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts, targeting the homes of key suspects linked to what is being described as a “white-collar terror” module.

Among the addresses searched were those of Moulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay in Shopian, and doctors Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather and Dr Muzamil Shakeel, as well as Amir Rashid in Pulwama — all already under arrest in the case.

Investigators say Wagay played a central role in recruiting and radicalising educated professionals — including medical practitioners — for the terror network, allegedly linked to banned outfits and cross-region conspiracy. The raids aim to recover incriminating material and digital evidence that could expand the list of suspects and uncover further links.

The operation comes against the backdrop of a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, when a car exploded in a heavily crowded area, killing multiple people. The car was reportedly driven by Dr Umar Nabi, a doctor from Pulwama. Authorities have described the incident as a terror strike orchestrated by a complex network of professionals.

So far, at least six suspects — including Wagay, Dr Adeel, Dr Muzamil and another accused, Jasir Bilal Wani — have been arrested in connection with the blast. Officials have indicated that NIA’s continuing searches may help map the full extent of the network, identify facilitators, trace funding and reconstruct the recruitment and planning chain.

Monday’s raids highlight a shift in security focus: from traditional militants to “white-collar” terror modules — educated professionals who allegedly played roles in financing, recruitment and execution of terror plots. The investigations now seek to dismantle these networks that traverse state boundaries, exploit professional cover, and challenge conventional assumptions about terrorist profiles.

As the NIA’s probe deepens, law enforcement agencies are under scrutiny to deliver timely answers: who else is involved, how the module was funded, whether more attacks were being planned — and whether the wider network extends beyond Kashmir and Delhi.