Delhi Blast Case: NIA Arrests 9th Accused Who Took Oath For Carrying Out 'Self-Sacrificial' Ops

Red Fort Blast: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested another accused in connection with the November 10 Delhi Red Fort terror blast case that claimed at least 15 lives and left several others injured.

A massive blast rocked Delhi on the evening of November 10 when a Hyundai i20 car exploded at 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, killing at least 15 people and injuring several others. The impact of the explosion was such that several vehicles were damaged, and visuals from the site showed mangled bodies and scattered debris.

The accused, identified as Yasir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, was arrested in Delhi after an intensive search operation launched by the NIA, making the ninth

arrest in the case. He was arrested under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the probe agency, Dar played an active role in the conspiracy and had taken an oath to carry out “self-sacrificial operations”. Dar was in close contact with other accused, including the suicide bomber, Dr Umar Nabi, and Mufti Irfan.

“Investigations have revealed Yasir’s active role in the conspiracy behind the car bomb blast that rocked the national capital on 10th November. An active participant in the conspiracy, he had sworn allegiance and taken an oath to carry out self-sacrificial operations,” the NIA said in a press release.

The probe agency further said that “Yasir was in close contact with the other accused persons in the case, including Umar Un Nabi (the deceased perpetrator of the bombing) as well as Mufti Irfan.”

Dar was produced before Delhi’s Patiala House Court, which remanded him to NIA custody till December 26.

Earlier this week, the Patiala House Court had extended the custody of Dr Bilal Nasir Malla and Shoyeb, arrested in connection with the Red Fort blast case, till December 19. Both accused were produced after their NIA custody expired.

Case Developments So Far

A total of 15 people were killed and over two dozen others injured in the blast that occurred around 7 pm on November 10 in a moving Hyundai i20 car driven by suicide bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi.

Earlier this month, the NIA arrested 8th accused, identified as Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla, who harboured Nabi by providing him logistical support. He was also nabbed by an NIA team from the national capital.

The NIA arrested the seventh accused, Soyab of Dhauj of Faridabad for allegedly sheltering Nabi shortly before the terror blast. Soyab told the NIA during his interrogation that he “not only harboured Umar but also extended logistical support to facilitate the terrorist’s movements ahead of the attack.”

On November 20, the agency arrested Shaheen Saeed along with Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir). They were taken into custody by the NIA in Srinagar on production orders from the district sessions judge in Patiala House court.

Earlier, the NIA arrested two other accused– Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the car used in the blast was registered, and Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, who had provided technical aid to the terrorist involved in the deadly attack.

The NIA said it is continuing to track multiple leads and conduct searches across different states in collaboration with the police to identify additional suspects in connection with the case.

(With inputs from agencies)