In connection with the Red Fort blast, a maulvi (religious preacher) named Irfan Ahmad and his wife Wagah have been arrested from Shopian district, J&K, on Tuesday night. Investigation is underway to uncover their involvement in the deadly blast and massive explosives recovered near Faridabad. The husband-wife duo was picked up yesterday by the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) and Srinagar Police from their residence. As per officials, the duo played a major role in recruiting young Kashmir-based recruits to a chain of conspirators that led to the car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort. Officials also noted that their arrest will avert many more similar attacks.
Who is Irfan Wagah — mastermind of Red Fort blast?
Wagah once worked as a paramedical staff at the Government Medical College in Srinagar. During those days, while praying at the mosque in Nowgam, he decided to quit hospital and start influencing aspiring doctors who were studying in Faridabad and other cities. As per an investigating official, Wagah was inspired by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). “He would show the students videos and sermons from JeM, even communicating with someone in Afghanistan over VOIP,” a source confirmed. He used encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and Threema to share materials and sermons. As per intelligence reports, he is under the guidance of Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
The Role of the Woman in the Red Fort blast?
As per the investigators, Irfan’s wife is also involved in the radicalising activity. She assisted in radicalising Dr Shaheen Saeed, a medical professional from UP. Shaheen is accused of managing and founding the women’s wing under Jaish, the Jamaat-ul-Mominaat. She acted as a financier and facilitator in the Delhi blast conspiracy. A source said, “She was a facilitator, but the brain was Irfan.” It is believed that two others who supported the operation were Muzzamil and Omar. A phone recovered from the couple’s home has some messages — “pursue extremist goals” and “expand the network.”
Maulvi’s involvement
It all started from October 19, when on a wall in Bunpora, Nowgam, a poster bearing Jaish-e-Mohammed’s name surfaced. Upon the information, the security agencies detained three workers who were earlier involved in stone-pelting activities. When interrogated, they named Maulvi Irfan, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, and Zameer Ahangar. The investigation further reached Dr Muzammil, another key figure allegedly operating from rooms owned by Irfan in Faridabad.
What was Maulvi’s plan?
350 kg of ammonium nitrate, bomb-making materials, an AK-47 rifle, and other weapons were recovered during the raid. At one property in Fatehpur Taga village, over 2,500 kg of suspected explosives were recovered.
As per intelligence inputs, the blast at Red Fort was just the beginning. The group had planned multi-state coordinated strikes — this was a revenge operation against the killing of Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s family members in Pakistan.
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