The aftermath of the Delhi blast has exposed a deeply entrenched terror network with ambitions extending across multiple Indian states. Investigations by the NIA and state police have unearthed alarming connections to ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and the now-resurrected ideology of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). The operation appears to be highly organized, involving radicalized professionals, including doctors, a significant cleric, and operatives receiving guidance from foreign handlers.
Security forces seized a substantial arms cache in Naugam, Jammu & Kashmir, during the investigation. This haul included an M4 assault rifle, multiple magazines, pistols, grenades, and ammunition, believed to have been hidden by local militants. The presence of M4 rifles, known for their formidable firepower, in this area, which recently saw an explosion at a police station, points to escalating militant capabilities and deep infiltration.
Central to the investigation is cleric Maulvi Irfan, accused of indoctrinating the suspects behind the Delhi blast. Taken into NIA custody, Irfan is alleged to have reformed an AGuH cell in 2022, strategically recruiting doctors to avoid detection. He also reportedly maintained ties with JeM. Doctors Muzammil, Adil Ahmad Rather, and Umar Mohammad Nabi were allegedly drawn into this circle through radical study sessions, inspired by the former AGuH commander Zakir Musa. Irfan is suspected of grooming Dr. Umar for a suicide attack and attempting to revive AGuH as a distinct, al-Qaeda-aligned Kashmiri group.
AGuH, originally established by Zakir Musa in 2017, was largely considered inactive following the deaths of its key leaders. However, the current probe suggests Irfan aimed to leverage its past influence among Kashmiri youth. The network’s methods of arms procurement and distribution are also under scrutiny. Interrogations revealed instances where doctors allegedly transported and handled firearms, including an AK-47, for Irfan.
A significant breakthrough came from the discovery of a modified flour grinder at a Faridabad residence. This device was allegedly used by Dr. Muzammil to process chemicals, including materials suspected to be ammonium nitrate and other explosive compounds, stolen from his university laboratory. The ingenious concealment of this bomb-making facility within a dowry item highlights the network’s deceptive tactics.
Crucially, the investigation has uncovered foreign links, including handlers operating from Türkiye and individuals associated with JeM. Sophisticated bomb-making guides and videos were reportedly disseminated to suspects. The alleged meeting between some operatives and a Syrian ISIS commander in Türkiye, purportedly arranged by JeM, indicates a worrying international connection and growing ambitions.