Image Source arcpublishing
New Delhi, India—The investigation into the deadly car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort has escalated from a localized terror probe into a complex international counter-terrorism operation. DNA tests have conclusively confirmed that Dr. Umar Un Nabi, a medical professional from Kashmir, was the suicide bomber driving the explosive-laden Hyundai i20.
However, the most chilling detail to emerge is the clear line of command stretching from the ruins of Old Delhi to an encrypted network guided by a handler in Ankara, Turkey.
This ‘white-collar’ module, involving multiple doctors and professionals, was allegedly operating under the direction of a handler codenamed ‘Ukasa’—Arabic for ‘spider.’
The “Spider” in Ankara
Investigators, utilizing digital forensics from the bomber’s associates, have traced communications between Dr. Nabi and ‘Ukasa’ to the Turkish capital. This remote coordination was exclusively managed through highly secure, encrypted platforms like the Session app, known for its anonymity, indicating a sophisticated attempt to evade national surveillance.
“Ukasa is likely an alias, a ghost in the machine,” stated a senior investigative officer. “But his location in Ankara is solid. He was the operational commander who radicalized them, controlled the finances, and provided the blueprint for the attack.”
Crucially, some members of the module, including Dr. Nabi, reportedly traveled to Ankara in 2022, where it is suspected they were personally recruited and trained by the handler, marking a significant—and worrying—departure from traditional domestic radicalization models.
The Anatomy of a ‘Spectacular Attack’
The DNA confirmation of Dr. Nabi as the bomber—who perished after detonating the car near the high-security heritage site—was the final piece connecting the blast to a terror module busted just days prior in Faridabad, Haryana.
The recovered evidence paints a terrifying picture of the planned operation:
- Massive Explosives Cache: The associated doctors were found to have amassed a staggering cache of nearly 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate and other bomb-making materials, much of it procured under the guise of their professional credentials.
- Multi-Vehicle Plot : Authorities have now confirmed the module had procured at least two other vehicles—a Ford EcoSport and a Brezza—intended for what they described in encrypted chats as a “spectacular attack.” The plan involved multiple vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) followed by assault rifle fire.
- High-Value Targets : Detailed reconnaissance and communications reveal that major targets included sensitive locations in Delhi, railway stations, malls, and even a planned attack on Ayodhya coinciding with symbolic religious dates.
Investigators believe the untimely arrest of a key associate, Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, and the seizure of the massive explosives cache in Faridabad, triggered a panic response in Dr. Nabi. He is suspected to have gone on a 16-hour panicked drive with the rigged car before carrying out the lone-wolf attack near the Red Fort to avoid imminent capture, thwarting the larger, multi-city conspiracy.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe, focusing on how a Turkey-based handler managed to recruit and direct a deadly “white-collar” terror cell operating deep within India’s professional fabric.
[Newsroom article is original. Facts are honestly sourced and rephrased from The Hindu, NDTV, India Today, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, The Indian Express, and others. No text copied.]
