Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The “white collar” Faridabad terror module involved in the Delhi suicide car bomb attack, had planned to modify drones to weaponise them, and make rockets for use before the November 10 terror strike near the Red Fort busted the gang comprising some medical professionals, investigators said on Monday.
An attempt of this sort would have parallels with the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 when it used drones as the main weapon of disruption and destruction. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) discovered this huge threat after it arrested a second terror suspect who worked with the suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi.
Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, who is also a resident of Jammu and Kashmir as the first suspect Amir Rashid Ali arrested from Delhi on Sunday, was caught in Srinagar by an NIA team.
A resident of Qazigund in Anantnag, Danish was arrested in Srinagar on Monday for allegedly providing technical support for carrying out terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to make rockets ahead of the deadly car bomb blast, the NIA said in a statement. The terror suspect from Anantnag district worked as an active co-conspirator behind the attack by the white collar module and its suicide bomber, Nabi, the NIA said, adding it was looking at all angles and pursuing multiple leads.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna on Tuesday sent Danish to 10 days’ NIA custody for his custodial interrogation by the anti-terror agency. Like in the case of another co-accused Amir Rashid Ali, media persons were barred from entering the court premises, which virtually turned the proceedings ‘in camera,’ when Danish was produced before the court. A heavy deployment of police and the Rapid Action Force was made in the court premises. On standby were several personnel in anti-riot gear.
According to the NIA, Danish tried to make powerful drones fitted with large batteries that can carry heavier bombs along with cameras. He has experience in making small weaponised drones, sources said. The terror module had planned to send a weaponised drone over a crowded area for maximum casualties, sources said, adding that groups like Hamas and many in war-torn Syria have used such a tactic.
Many nations these days know that terrorists can use drones. To counter the threat, they have prepared themselves to varying levels depending on their technological capability. India, too, has been strengthening its drone strike and anti-drone units at scale.
On Monday, the same court had sent on 10-days NIA remand Amir Rashid Ali, also co-accused in the Delhi blast case. The NIA had told the court that Amir had allegedly arranged a safe house and provided logistical support to Umar Un Nabi, the man behind the wheels of the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort killing 13 people and injuring 30 others.
