A string of revelations following the recent Delhi blast has brought to light a sophisticated and expanding terror network with alarming ties to ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) ideology. Authorities are piecing together a complex web involving radicalized professionals, foreign facilitators, and a dangerous capacity for fabricating explosives, operating across multiple Indian states, including Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
In a significant development, security forces uncovered a large weapons cache in Naugam, Jammu & Kashmir. The recovered items include an M4 assault rifle, which is capable of penetrating bulletproof vests, along with pistols, grenades, and ammunition. This discovery is central to the ongoing investigation and suggests a deep-rooted militant presence in the region, especially given the recent explosion at a local police station.
Imam Irfan, a cleric from Shopian, has emerged as a key figure, allegedly responsible for radicalizing the individuals involved in the Delhi plot. He is currently in NIA custody and is accused of attempting to resurrect the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind group. Investigations suggest Irfan formed a cell in 2022, recruiting doctors who had previously connected through radical study circles and were influenced by the ideology of Zakir Musa. He is also reported to have had ties with JeM.
Doctors Muzammil, Adil Ahmad Rather, and Umar Mohammad Nabi are among those identified as having contact with Irfan. Evidence indicates Irfan allegedly prepared Dr. Umar for a suicide mission and aimed to re-establish AGuH as a distinct Kashmiri militant group with al-Qaeda affiliations. The group AGuH, founded by Zakir Musa in 2017, was previously considered dormant after the deaths of its leaders.
Details of arms movement have also surfaced. Interrogations suggest that doctors were involved in transporting and handling weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and pistols, for Irfan. These weapons were later recovered, providing crucial links in the investigation.
A significant operational hub was discovered in Faridabad, where a flour grinder was modified for bomb-making. Dr. Muzammil allegedly used this device to process chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, which was reportedly stolen from his university laboratory. Large quantities of explosive materials were seized from rented premises, highlighting the scale of the operation.
The investigation has also pointed towards foreign involvement, with alleged handlers in Türkiye and links to Jaish-e-Mohammed. Suspects reportedly received extensive bomb-making instructions and videos. Moreover, evidence suggests a meeting occurred in Türkiye between some operatives and a Syrian ISIS commander, with JeM allegedly facilitating the encounter, underscoring the international dimension of this emerging threat.