In a dramatic twist to the Red Fort car blast that killed nine and injured over 20, Delhi Police and Jammu & Kashmir authorities have detained the family of Dr Mohammad Umar, the alleged mastermind behind Monday’s suspected suicide bombing near the Red Fort Metro Station.

The joint operation led to the late-night detention of Umar’s mother, Shamima Bano, and his brothers, Ashiq Ahmed and Zahoor Ahmed, from their Pulwama residence. Officials also seized electronic devices, documents, and personal belongings for forensic examination.

The Doctor Who Turned Deadly

Dr Umar, 36, a medical practitioner at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad, is believed to have been the lone occupant of the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro on Monday evening. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators shows the car parked near the Sunehri Masjid for nearly three hours before it moved moments ahead of the blast. The explosion, which sent shockwaves across central Delhi, bore the hallmarks of a fidayeen-style attack, authorities said.

Meanwhile, Umar’s family maintains his innocence. “He was a simple doctor, not a terrorist,” a relative said. “If he has done something wrong, let the truth come out. But right now, we are only praying he’s alive.”

Faridabad Terror Module Under the Scanner

Investigators suspect that Umar’s actions were linked to a Faridabad-based terror module exposed last week, where security agencies recovered 2,900 kg of IED-making material from the premises of another doctor, Muzzamil Shakeel, allegedly associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind networks.

Reports suggest, Umar panicked after Shakeel’s arrest earlier that day and executed the Red Fort attack in haste. Police have since detained over a dozen individuals, including car handlers who sold the Hyundai i20 through multiple owners, tracing its trail back to Pulwama.

Family in Shock: “He Was Bookworm, Not Bomber”

While investigators tighten their grip on the widening terror web, Umar’s family insists on his innocence. Speaking to reporters, his sister-in-law broke down, calling him “kitabon ka keeda” (a bookworm). “He was our only hope to lift the family out of poverty.”

“I spoke with him on Friday last week. He said exams are on and that he was studying in the library. He was kitab ka keeda (bookworm). He used to urge us to study whenever he came home. We are shocked,” she said. She further said Dr Umar’s arrest left the family devastated. “His mother worked hard to bring the family out of poverty. He was our only hope to come out of poverty,” she further said, her voice breaking.

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