The demolition of the Pulwama residence of Dr Umar Nabi — the key suspect linked to the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated near Delhi’s Red Fort earlier this week — has become a major turning point in the rapidly expanding investigation. The blast, which killed at least ten people and injured many more, has not only exposed a sophisticated terror module spread across Delhi-NCR and Jammu & Kashmir but has also triggered one of the most extensive crackdowns in recent years involving Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police and multiple national agencies.
Security forces on Friday brought down the two-storey structure in Koil village, Pulwama, which officials described as the operational base and point of coordination for the prime accused. Investigators say the demolition marks a crucial step in mapping the larger conspiracy surrounding the attack that took place just metres away from one of India’s most guarded heritage zones. As authorities piece together the operational mobility, vehicle trails, chemical stockpiling and cross-state movement of the module, the case is fast transforming into a broader national security investigation.
Demolition in Pulwama Adds New Dimension to Expanding Anti-Terror Operation
Security forces moved swiftly early Friday morning to demolish the Pulwama residence of Dr Umar Nabi, a medical professional whose transition from academic life to alleged terror operations has startled investigators. The demolition took place in Koil village, where officials had already cordoned off the area following forensic teams’ multiple visits earlier in the week. According to officers familiar with the operation, the structure was not only Nabi’s home but also a suspected meeting point for the module during the planning stages of the Delhi attack.
Officials explained that the building was dismantled as part of the ongoing evidence-collection process, following clear indications that the site may have housed critical documents, digital devices, and materials that linked the accused doctor to the broader plot. The action was taken under provisions that allow security agencies to remove or break open structures that possibly conceal material evidence essential to the investigation of terrorist acts.
Investigating officers said the decision was taken after multiple intelligence inputs suggested that barring access to the property could allow sympathisers to tamper with or conceal potential evidence. The J&K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and various technical units were part of the coordinated operation.
The case took a dramatic turn after forensic analysis from the blast site established the identity of the deceased driver by matching DNA samples collected from the Hyundai i20’s remains with those of Nabi’s mother. This confirmation aligned with other leads pointing to his involvement in procuring, loading and driving the explosives.
Dr Umar Nabi, an assistant professor of physiotherapy at Al Falah University in Faridabad, had reportedly disappeared days before the attack. Colleagues told investigators that his sudden absence raised suspicions, especially after news of the blast surfaced. Police sources say Nabi’s professional history — though stable on the surface — concealed deep online and offline associations with radical operatives involved in explosives training and logistics support.
His name had already surfaced in earlier interrogations of two individuals arrested last week — Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie and Dr Adeel Rather — who were found to be in possession of over 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, timers, detonators and assault rifles. These materials were discovered in Faridabad where the three doctors reportedly operated a covert storage and assembly unit under the guise of academic collaboration.
According to officials, the crackdown on the Faridabad network prompted Nabi to act “in panic and desperation,” pushing him to execute the attack earlier than intended. Investigators believe he may have been transporting the explosives to an alternate location to avoid detection when the detonation occurred.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is now examining parallel leads in J&K, is preparing to widen the search to identify additional members who may have facilitated procurement, transport or logistics. Senior officers report that the case reflects a shift towards highly educated operatives exploiting professional networks to mask extremist activities and move materials undetected across state borders.
Multiple Vehicles Under Scanner as Agencies Trace Movement of Explosives, Firearms and Chemicals
While the demolition in Pulwama was underway, investigative teams in Delhi and Haryana made a significant discovery by seizing a fourth vehicle suspected to have been used by the module. On Thursday, officials confirmed that a silver Maruti Brezza, registered on September 25 under the name of Dr Shaheen Shahid, had been taken into custody. The vehicle, bearing registration HR87 U 9988, was allegedly used in the transport chain of either explosive material or firearms across various parts of Delhi-NCR.
This Brezza joins three other vehicles already flagged:
– The white Hyundai i20, bearing number HR26 CE 7674, which was driven by Nabi during the fatal explosion.
– A red Ford EcoSport, recovered from a Faridabad village and believed to be linked to the earlier stockpiling operations.
– A Maruti Swift Dzire, owned by Dr Shaheen Shahid and allegedly driven by Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie to move ammonium nitrate and other components.
Investigators say the use of multiple cars shows the module’s attempt to disperse risk, avoid pattern recognition, and prevent any single vehicle from drawing sustained suspicion. The cars also allowed them to shift materials across district and state borders without leaving a consistent trail. According to Delhi Police sources, each vehicle played a distinct role in the logistics chain — some in transporting explosive materials, others for moving assembled components, and at least one for shifting firearms from Jammu & Kashmir into Delhi-NCR.
Officials believe the firearms moved by the same network were intended for either the execution of follow-up attacks or the protection of operatives working on the explosives. The discovery of highly volatile ammonium nitrate in bulk quantities — paired with assault rifles and sophisticated timers — suggests a module that was in advanced stages of preparations.
Most of the movement appears to have occurred during late-night drives on internal roads linking Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, and outer Delhi regions, where routine checks are infrequent and traffic is minimal. Investigators are now reviewing toll-plaza CCTV footage, fuel-station camera data, and phone tower dumps to reconstruct precise movement patterns of all four vehicles.
The registration details of the seized Brezza indicate that it was purchased barely a month before the blast, raising new questions about whether it was intended for long-term operations or for immediate use. Agencies are also probing whether more such vehicles remain untraced.
Meanwhile, digital forensics teams are mapping call records, encrypted chats, and cloud storage used by the accused. Preliminary findings suggest that the module relied heavily on secure messaging apps, VPN-based communication and anonymised email accounts to coordinate their movements.
The wider network is now under active investigation by the NIA, the Special Cell of Delhi Police, and the J&K Police, working through a joint-intelligence framework. All agencies have been instructed to prioritise tracing the supply chain of ammonium nitrate, the origin of the firearms, and the communication channels used to coordinate the attack.
The Delhi Police have formally registered an FIR under several stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, including Section 16 for terrorist acts and Section 18 for conspiracy. Additional charges under the Explosive Substances Act — Section 3 for causing an explosion likely to endanger life and Section 4 for attempting to cause such an explosion — have been included. Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) such as 103(1) for murder, 109(1) for attempt to murder and 61(2) for criminal conspiracy further strengthen the case.
Investigators say these charges reflect the gravity of the attack, the premeditated nature of the operation, the scale of material recovered, and the trans-state spread of the conspiracy. With each passing day, the investigation is drawing in new individuals, properties, devices and vehicles, revealing what authorities are now describing as one of the most organised terror modules uncovered in recent years.
