National Investigation Agency India arrests Kashmiri resident, Amir Rashid Ali, a Kashmiri resident, on Sunday for his role as accomplice in the Delhi blast near Red Fort. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) linked him to suicide bomber Umar Nabi, a Kashmir doctor. The November 10 attack killed 13 people and injured 32. It used a car registered in Ali’s name. Probes continue across states.
This arrest disrupts a Kashmir terror module that exploited professionals like doctors to plan bombings in urban India. It underscores vulnerabilities in South Asia’s security, where cross-border networks fuel unrest. The incident heightens tensions in Delhi, a hub for regional diplomacy, and prompts calls for tighter intelligence sharing among neighbours. Success here could deter similar threats, but failure risks escalating communal divides.
India Arrests Kashmiri Amir Rashid Ali, Suicide Bomber’s Key Accomplice
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained Amir Rashid Ali in Delhi on November 16, 2025. Officials described the move as a major breakthrough in the Delhi blast probe. Ali, from Samboora village in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, owned the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near Red Fort metro station. NIA investigations show he travelled to Delhi to buy the vehicle. He then handed it to Umar Nabi for loading with explosives.
NIA spokesperson confirmed the details in a press release. “Amir Rashid Ali conspired with the suicide bomber Umar Nabi to carry out the terror attack,” the statement read. The blast claimed 13 lives and left 32 injured. Forensic tests matched DNA from the car wreckage to Nabi, a 35-year-old assistant professor from Pulwama. Nabi worked in the General Medicine Department at Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
Ali faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosives Act. He appeared before a special court on Monday. The agency seized another vehicle linked to Nabi for evidence. Teams have questioned 73 witnesses so far. This includes blast survivors and locals near the site.
The plot involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED). Experts say the bomb mixed ammonium nitrate with TATP, known as “Mother of Satan” for its volatility. Nabi drove the car to a traffic signal at 7 pm on November 10. The explosion damaged four nearby vehicles and shattered windows in Chandni Chowk market.
Umar Nabi: Kashmir Doctor’s Path to Delhi Bombing
Umar Nabi, the identified suicide bomber, led a double life. By day, he taught medicine at Al Falah University. By night, he built bombs in a home lab. Raids in Faridabad uncovered testing equipment at his rented house. Investigators found devices for mixing chemicals and timers. Nabi followed DIY videos from handlers in Pakistan.
Nabi completed his MBBS at Government Medical College Srinagar. He joined Al Falah in June 2024. Sources say he radicalised during a 2021 trip to Turkey. There, he met overground workers of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The group, based in Pakistan, claims responsibility for past Kashmir attacks. Nabi owed allegiance to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an Al Qaeda offshoot active in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Delhi bombing formed part of a larger Kashmir terror module. Nabi planned serial blasts in Delhi. Targets included high-profile sites on December 6, the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary. Police raids disrupted the scheme. On October 30, Jammu and Kashmir Police hit a Faridabad hideout. They seized 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate. Assault rifles and pistols also surfaced.
Three doctors tied to Al Falah faced arrest in that module. They included Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Adeel Ahmad Rather from south Kashmir. A third, Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow, worked at the university. All communicated via Threema and Signal apps with handlers named Faisal, Hashim, and Ukasha. Nabi evaded capture initially. He loaded 350 kg of explosives into the i20 and fled.
Panic set in after the raids. Nabi drove 16 hours from Faridabad. He parked near Sunehri Masjid for three hours, searching online for news of his associates’ arrests. Fearing capture, he headed to Red Fort. The blast occurred prematurely, sources say. Nabi died in the explosion.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the case on November 11. “Teams of Delhi Police, NIA, NSG, and forensics probe all angles,” he stated. “Exact details will emerge soon.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “heinous terror incident by anti-national forces.” The cabinet passed a resolution expressing grief. It reaffirmed zero tolerance for terrorism.
Background: Kashmir Terror Module and Red Fort Attack Links
The Kashmir terror module exploited educated youth. Nabi and his aides posed as professionals to procure materials. Fertiliser dealers supplied ammonium nitrate under false pretexts. Car sellers handed over vehicles without full checks. The module linked to JeM’s post-Operation Sindoor plans. That 2024 Indian strike targeted terror camps in Pakistan.
Raids post-blast recovered arms caches across northern states. Items included ammunition, chemicals, and IED circuits. On November 15, a separate incident rocked Srinagar. Nine died and 30 injured when seized explosives detonated in a police station. Authorities ruled it accidental, with no militant ties.
NIA took over the Delhi case from Delhi Police on November 11. It registered FIR RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI. Coordination spans Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Over 50 locations faced searches. Nine suspects from Kanpur entered custody. They include family members of aides like Aamir Rashid Mir.
Security bulldozed Nabi’s Pulwama home on November 14. The action targeted terror financing. Locals described Nabi as “quiet and studious.” His shift to extremism shocked the community. Police now check car dealers and fertiliser sellers in Kashmir.
The Red Fort site symbolises Mughal history. Past attacks there, like the 2000 assault, drew global attention. This bombing revives fears of urban jihad. Delhi heightened checks at metros and markets. NCR airports added scans.
What’s Next
NIA pursues leads on the wider network. More arrests loom as digital trails surface. India may push Pakistan on handler extradition. Enhanced border vigilance aims to block future Kashmir terror module bids. Courts will fast-track trials to deter accomplices.
The arrest of Amir Rashid Ali in the India arrests Kashmiri accomplice in Delhi blast case signals progress. Yet, the Kashmir terror module’s roots run deep. South Asia watches for ripples.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 17th, 2025
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