Srinagar: In a significant development in the probe into the devastating Delhi explosion that claimed 15 lives, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken into custody a second medical professional accused of aiding the suicide bomber and tampering with evidence.
Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla, from Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir, was detained by NIA officials in Delhi on Wednesday. Authorities describe him as a central figure in the plot, marking him as the eighth individual apprehended in this case. The agency alleges that Dr. Malla offered shelter and essential logistical assistance to Dr. Umar Un Nabi, the bomber who detonated explosives near the Red Fort on November 10, resulting in 11 immediate fatalities and numerous injuries.
Beyond providing refuge, Dr. Malla faces charges for deliberately destroying materials linked to the attack, according to the NIA’s findings. “NIA investigations reveal that Bilal knowingly harboured the deceased accused Umar Un Nabi by supplying him with logistical support. He is further accused of destroying evidence tied to the terrorist incident,” the agency stated in an official release.
The blast, which occurred in a bustling area close to the historic Red Fort, has unraveled a sophisticated “white-collar terror module” involving educated professionals, including physicians. The NIA continues to collaborate with central and state security forces to trace the full scope of the conspiracy.
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Recent efforts underscore the investigation’s intensity. Just weeks after the explosion, NIA teams escorted key suspect Dr. Adeel Rather back to Kashmir for operations in a remote forest near Anantnag, supported by Army personnel and Jammu and Kashmir Police. The morning raids in the thickly wooded terrain yielded suspicious items, sources indicated, potentially shedding light on hidden preparations.
Among those involved was Jasir Bilal Wani, a student with expertise in drone technology, nabbed earlier for his role in the module. Dr. Adeel, a longtime associate of Dr. Umar, has emerged as pivotal to cracking the network. His detention, alongside that of Dr. Muzamil Ganai, prompted Jammu and Kashmir Police to seize approximately 300 kilograms of explosives stashed in Haryana—a breakthrough that has since led to multiple arrests and interrogations of dozens more.
As the NIA delves deeper, the case highlights vulnerabilities in radicalization among professionals, with ongoing searches poised to expose further connections in this chilling scheme.
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