Delhi Blast Probe: Jaish Handler Shared Explosives Tutorials With Accused

A Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed handler using the alias ‘Hanzulla’ shared bomb-making videos with Dr Muzamil Shakeel, one of the main accused in the Red Fort blast that killed 15 people, sources have said.

Investigators believe the name ‘Hanzulla’ is a pseudonym and are working to identify the handler. The same name had appeared on Jaish posters found in Nowgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in October, which first put agencies on alert.

How the Module Was Built

According to sources, the handler contacted Shakeel through Maulvi Irfan Ahmed, a cleric from Shopian accused of radicalising several young professionals and creating a “white-collar” terror module.

Maulvi Irfan first recruited Shakeel — a doctor at Faridabad’s Al-Falah University, whose licence has since been cancelled — who then brought in other like-minded doctors: Muzaffar Ahmad, Adeel Ahmad Rather, and Shaheen Saeed.

Shakeel is accused of transporting explosives and handing over the white Hyundai i20 later used in the blast to the alleged suicide bomber, Umar Mohammad alias Umar-un-Nabi. DNA tests confirmed Umar as the bomber.

Months of Planning, Massive Explosive Build-Up

Investigators say the module had been planning for months and was preparing nearly 200 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target high-profile locations across Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad.

To avoid detection, they used Telegram, referring to explosives as “biryani” and planned attacks as “daawat”.

The i20 exploded near the Red Fort last week — the same day that 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered in Faridabad, just 50 km away. Officials believe Umar panicked and triggered the blast after investigators arrested Shakeel and Rather and seized the explosives.

Al-Falah University Under Investigation

Faridabad’s Al-Falah University is now at the centre of both terror and money-laundering probes. Its founder, Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate this week under the PMLA, following FIRs related to cheating and forged accreditation documents.

Searches at 25 locations linked to the university yielded ₹48 lakh in cash, digital devices, and documents.