New Delhi: The investigation into the Red Fort car blast has taken a new turn after officials confirmed that one of the detained suspects has links to Kerala. The explosion, which took place near the Red Fort metro station on November 10, killed at least 12 people and left many injured.
Police sources said that Dr Mohammad Arif, who is now in custody, studied for a period at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College before continuing his medical education in North India. His Kerala connection came to light during verification of his academic history and travel records. Officers are now checking whether he maintained contacts in the state and if any of these links had a role in the wider plot.
Dr Arif, originally from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, was detained in Kanpur after investigators found that he had been in regular contact with another key suspect, Dr Shaheen Sayeed. Both are being questioned about their connection to a suspected terror module that appears to include medical students and professionals from different states.
Investigators have already identified the suspected bomber as Dr Mohammad Umar Nabi, whose DNA matched the remains recovered from the blast site. CCTV footage shows him passing a Haryana toll plaza shortly before the explosion, suggesting that he was driving the vehicle that later blew up.
Search operations across several states have led to the recovery of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, as well as weapons and several vehicles believed to have been used in the planning stages. Teams are examining whether the group was preparing for more attacks in the coming weeks.
Officials say the Kerala link does not yet point to any wider network in the state, but they are verifying Dr Arif’s connections and movements during his time in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala Police have been alerted and may join parts of the investigation if required.
The case is being jointly handled by the Delhi Police Special Cell, the UP anti terror squad, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency. Officers say the emerging pattern suggests a structured and well coordinated group that operated across several states.
More arrests are expected as investigators work to uncover the full extent of the network and the possible motives behind the deadly attack near the Red Fort.