Red Fort attackers planned attack for January 26, conducted multiple site checks

An analysis of dump data retrieved from the mobile phone of Dr Muzammil Ganaie, who was arrested after police busted a white-collar terror module recently, showed that he conducted multiple reconnaissances of the Red Fort area in January this year, officials said.

Police said they suspect these recces were part of a larger conspiracy to target the historic monument on Republic Day, but were foiled due to intensified patrolling in the area at the time.

Hours after police busted the terror module with links to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, and arrested eight people including three doctors, a high-intensity blast ripped through a slow-moving car near Delhi's Red Fort area, killing 12 people and injuring several others.

Around 2,500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate and sulphur were seized after police busted the terror module, which spanned across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

According to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) that collected around 40 samples from the blast site, preliminary analysis suggested that one of the explosive samples is likely to be ammonium nitrate.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that analysis of the dump data showed Dr Muzammil's repeated presence in and around the Red Fort area in the first week of January.

Along with Dr Umar Nabi, an assistant professor at the Al-Falah University who is said to have been driving the car that exploded on Monday, Dr Muzammil visited the Red Fort multiple times to study the security arrangements and crowd density patterns. Their movements were corroborated through tower location data and CCTV footage collected from nearby areas, officials said.

"These visits were part of a detailed reconnaissance ahead of a planned attack on January 26," the officer said.

Meanwhile, the forensics team has collected around 40 samples from the blast site, including two cartridges, live ammunition, and samples of two different types of explosives. Preliminary analysis suggests that one of the explosive samples could be ammonium nitrate, officials said.

During the investigation on Monday, 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate was recovered from Faridabad, where Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, both connected to Al-Falah University, were arrested.

"The second explosive sample is believed to be more powerful than ammonium nitrate. Its exact composition will be confirmed after detailed forensic examination," an official said.

According to officials, the forensics team found the cartridges while inspecting the spot. Further investigation is underway to determine the nature of the explosives and how they were used in the blast, they said.

As part of the ongoing probe into the module's activities, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday detained a preacher from Mewat in Haryana. Maulvi Ishtiyaq, who has been brought to Srinagar, was staying in a rented house within the Al-Falah University complex in Faridabad. It was from his home that police had recovered more than 2,500 kilograms of explosives, officials said. Maulvi Ishtiyaq, who will be the ninth person to be nabbed in the case, is likely to be placed under arrest.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has been carrying out massive checking across the national capital in the aftermath of the explosion. Police personnel and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers at all the entry and exit points of Delhi. Vehicles entering and leaving the city are being thoroughly checked as part of the intensified security measures.

Senior police officers are personally supervising the security checks at interstate borders, including Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri, and Badarpur. Vehicles are being checked randomly at markets, metro stations, railway terminals and bus stands, officials said.

A senior police officer said that all district units and specialised wings have been directed to remain on alert and increase patrolling in crowded areas.

"We are taking no chances. The focus is on maintaining public confidence and ensuring that the city remains secure," the officer said.

Sniffer dogs, metal detectors and anti-sabotage teams are pressed into service at sensitive locations.