Samba Times Special
New Delhi, November 11, 2025
In a shocking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the national capital, investigators have unmasked Dr. Muhammad Umar, a 32-year-old doctor from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, as the mastermind behind Monday’s devastating car bomb explosion near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort. The blast, which claimed nine lives and injured over 20 others, is now linked to a sophisticated “white-collar” terror network dubbed the “Doctors of Doom” by security agencies—a radicalized cadre of medical professionals allegedly plotting large-scale attacks across India.
The explosion occurred at approximately 6:52 PM on November 10, when a Hyundai i20 sedan, driven by Dr. Umar, came to a halt at a red light on Subhash Marg near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, adjacent to the historic Sunehri Masjid. Eyewitnesses described a deafening roar followed by a massive fireball that engulfed nearby vehicles and pedestrians in the densely populated Old Delhi area. Forensic teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Security Guard (NSG) confirmed the use of high-grade explosives, with remnants suggesting a suicide-style detonation. 12 Among the victims were a family of four tourists from Uttar Pradesh and several local vendors, turning a bustling evening into a scene of tragedy.
Delhi Police are investigating all possible angles with multiple owners of the car used in the explosion under the scanner. Following the blast, the police traced and detained the car’s original owner, Mohd. Salman. During investigation, it was revealed that Salman had sold the car about one-and-a-half years ago to a man named Devendra in Okhla. The vehicle was later sold to someone in Ambala and then again to Tariq and Umar in Pulwama.
Dr. Umar, whose alleged charred remains were recovered from the vehicle’s wreckage, was no ordinary radical. Hailing from Koil village in Pulwama, the son of Ghulam Nabi Bhat and Shamima Bano, he pursued an MD in Medicine from Government Medical College Srinagar and later served as a senior resident at GMC Anantnag. His professional trail led him to Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad, Haryana, where he taught and networked with like-minded individuals. Security sources describe him as a “highly educated ideologue” who leveraged encrypted Telegram channels to recruit and coordinate, blending his medical expertise with jihadist fervor.
“This was a calculated strike aimed at maximum civilian casualties in a symbolic heart of India,”
said a senior Delhi Police officer, speaking anonymously. Preliminary investigations point to Dr. Umar’s death in the blast as a deliberate act, highlighting his commitment to the cause.
The plot’s tentacles extend far beyond the Red Fort. In a swift multi-state crackdown, authorities have dismantled what they believe is a nationwide terror syndicate affiliated with Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the Kashmir-focused Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Three key arrests have already been made, unearthing a cache of arms and explosives that could have fueled additional atrocities.
- Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, an assistant professor at Al-Falah Medical College, was nabbed on October 30 from his rented flat in Faridabad. Raids yielded nearly 360 kg of ammonium nitrate—a potent explosive precursor—along with an assault rifle loaded with 83 rounds, a pistol with eight cartridges, 12 suitcases rigged for transport, 20 detonators, remote controls, and a walkie-talkie set.
- Dr. Adil Rathar (also spelled Adeel Rather), a close associate of Dr. Umar, was apprehended on November 6 in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after intelligence tipped off his involvement in pro-JeM propaganda, including posters glorifying the group in Srinagar.
- Dr. Shaheen Shahid, another Faridabad-linked physician, was detained in Haryana as part of the widening probe. 11
In a parallel development, Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Dr. Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed for an ISIS-inspired scheme to weaponize the deadly toxin Ricin, hinting at overlapping networks among radicalized professionals. Over 1,000 personnel from Delhi Police, Haryana Police, and central agencies are now scouring Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and beyond, with multiple detentions reported in the Valley.
An FIR has been lodged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Chandni Mahal Police Station. Home Minister Amit Shah chaired an emergency high-level meeting late Monday, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” approach. “All angles are under intense scrutiny; no stone will be left unturned to neutralize this threat,” Shah stated, as per official briefings. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha echoed the resolve, noting the blast’s timing—mere days before Diwali—suggests an intent to sow communal discord.
As the nation mourns, questions linger: How did a cadre of elite doctors evade detection? Experts point to the group’s “white-collar” facade—using medical conferences and online forums for covert radicalization—as a chilling evolution in terror tactics. With the Red Fort blast marking the deadliest attack in Delhi since 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the nation today, vowing justice for the victims.
Investigations continue, with CCTV footage and digital forensics yielding fresh leads. For now, the “Doctors of Doom” stand exposed, but the shadow of their unfinished agenda looms large.
