Four More Arrested in Deadly Delhi Car Bombing, Including Doctors
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), India's premier anti-terrorism body, announced on November 20 the arrest of four additional individuals, including three medical professionals, in connection with the devastating car bomb attack that struck Delhi last week. This incident, which occurred on November 10 near the iconic Red Fort, resulted in the tragic deaths of 10 people and left 32 wounded, marking the first such attack in the heavily fortified capital in over a decade.
Key Accused Identified and Background
Among those apprehended and identified as "prime accused" are Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganai, Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, all hailing from Indian Kashmir. Also arrested was Dr. Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow, a northern city. The NIA stated that these individuals played a "key role in the terror attack," though specific details of their involvement were not immediately disclosed via their statement on X.
It was noted that Dr. Ganai, Dr. Rather, and Mufti Wagay had previously been in the custody of Jammu and Kashmir police. Their initial arrest last week was linked to allegations of being part of a terrorist unit associated with Pakistan-based militant organizations Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. At the time, their families vehemently denied these accusations, asserting their innocence. A Reuters request for comment from Dr. Saeed's brother went unanswered on November 20.
Further Arrests and Allegations
The NIA also revealed prior arrests on November 16 and 17, naming Amir Rashid Ali, allegedly the registered owner of the vehicle used in the attack, and Jasir Bilal Wani, who is accused of providing technical assistance to the suspected suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi—also identified as a doctor. These three individuals, like some of the recently arrested, also originate from Jammu and Kashmir, India's sole Muslim-majority region, which has a history of militant activity against security forces, although violence has reportedly declined in recent years.
The ongoing investigation seeks to unravel the full extent of the conspiracy behind this significant act of terrorism in the heart of India.