Red Fort car blast: Pathankot surgeon with past Al-Falah University ties and linked to key accused detained
PTC Web Desk: A surgeon from Pathankot, earlier employed at Haryana’s Al-Falah University, an institution now under scrutiny for suspected terror links, has been detained as part of the investigation into the Red Fort car blast case.
Dr Rayees Ahmad Bhat (45), currently associated with White Medical College in Pathankot, was taken into custody after investigators learned that he had been in frequent contact with Dr Umar Nabi, the prime accused who detonated an explosive-laden car near Delhi’s Red Fort, killing 13 persons.
According to officials, Dr Bhat worked at Al-Falah University between 2020 and 2021, the same period during which Dr Umar was active there. Investigators reportedly found that Dr Bhat continued communication with university staff, prompting agencies to detain him to “verify facts” and determine whether he was linked to a suspected “white collar” terror module backed by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
In addition to Dr Bhat, another doctor and an MBBS student from Al-Falah University, both said to be in contact with Dr Umar, were detained during raids conducted by the Delhi Police Special Cell and central agencies in Dhauj and Nuh in Haryana.
The arrests follow the discovery of a massive cache of explosives, around 2,900 kg of IED-making material, recovered from premises rented by another doctor, Muzammil Shakeel, who also worked at Al-Falah University. Shakeel has been arrested, along with his colleague, Dr Shaheen Shahid, accused of being involved in establishing a women's wing of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in India.
The emergence of this alleged “white collar” terror network, combined with the Red Fort bombing, has placed Al-Falah University and its affiliated hospital under intense national scrutiny. With several members of its staff detained or questioned, the Enforcement Directorate has now launched an investigation into the funding of the university.
- With inputs from agencies
