Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Monday evening’s explosion near the iconic Red Fort killing 13 people and injuring about two dozen others may be only a sub-plot and the group is likely to be aimed to target multiple landmarks in central Delhi.
Intelligence sources investigating the Delhi blast believe that the module, allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group, aimed to target landmarks like Red Fort, India Gate, Constitution Club, and the Gauri Shankar Temple. Investigators believe over 200 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were being prepared for use not only in Delhi but also in Gurugram and Faridabad to trigger a Mumbai-type serial blasts in the national capital.
The group’s objective, sources said, was to incite communal tensions by attacking religious sites and public spaces. According to sources, several doctors from Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag districts in Jammu and Kashmir are part of the module. These medical professionals provided a “white-collar cover” for the terror network, enabling them to move freely in Delhi-NCR without arousing suspicion, sources said.
They established bases in Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga, rural areas near Faridabad, where explosives were stored. Among those arrested are Dr Shaheen Saeed, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganale, and Dr Adeel Rather. Another suspect, Dr Umar Un Nabi, is believed to have been the suicide bomber who died in the Red Fort blast on November 10. All four had medical backgrounds, and several had professional associations with Al-Falah University on the outskirts of Faridabad.
Both Dr Shaheen Shahid and Dr Muzammil Shakeel were employed at Al-Falah University. Both individuals were in contact before their arrest. Dr Shahid was arrested after an assault rifle and ammunition were recovered from her vehicle. Authorities say she was involved in setting up a women’s wing of the Jaish-e-Mohammed. Dr Muzammil was arrested with 2,900 kg of explosive materials.
Three other doctors who worked at the same university were detained for questioning.
Even though the Al-Falah University has distanced itself from the alleged terror module run by some of the doctors associated with the University, the institution itself may not be above the board considering that in the past it had had hired as a professor a person who was dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor in 2023 on “security” grounds.
The Al-Falah University, a private institution located about 27 km from the Haryana-Delhi border, has come under national spotlight over the past few days owing to shocking developments that include a massive recovery of explosives and the blast near the iconic Red Fort that shook the nation.
The University was found to have employed Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, a professor in the Department of Medicine at Al-Falah University, had been dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in 2023 for alleged links with terrorist organisations. He was dismissed under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution. The provision allows the government to terminate a public servant without a departmental inquiry in cases involving the security of the state.
According to official records, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan was serving as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar before his dismissal. The order, issued on November 21, 2023, stated that the Lieutenant Governor was “satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of information available, that the activities of Dr Nisar-Ul-Hassan are such as to warrant his dismissal from service.”
“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that, in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Dr Nisar-Ul-Hassan, Assistant Professor (Medicine), SMHS Hospital, Srinagar,” the order read. It was confirmed that after being dismissed in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan was recruited by Al-Falah University in Faridabad. He was listed as a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the university. The University, however, has denied any association with terror organisations. As central agencies probe possible links between terror cells operating in Delhi-NCR and individuals associated with the university, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan is reportedly untraceable.
Over the past few days, scores of cops have frequented the university’s campus in Faridabad’s Dhauj and questioned 52 doctors there. The investigators are seeking information about Dr Muzammil Shakeel, Dr Shaheen Shahid, and Dr Umar Mohammed — suspects who were allegedly running a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror module that amassed a huge amount of explosives and was planning a big attack in Delhi. This module has also been linked to the Old Delhi car explosion.
The university has expressed concern over “misleading stories” and denied “false and defamatory allegations.” The management has said the university has no connection with the suspects apart from their professional link with the institution. The university’s statement has also said there was no suspicious chemical on the university premises, contrary to what some reports suggested.
Al-Falah University, sprawled over 70 acres in Faridabad’s Dhauj, was established in 2014 and recognised by the higher education regulator, University Grants Commission, the next year. The university comes under the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, which was formed in 1995 and started an engineering college in 1997. The university has schools offering courses in medical science, engineering and technology, humanities, computer science, and education, among others.
The Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre has been offering MBBS degrees since 2019. The medical college also has a 650-bed hospital attached to it. According to its website, it can enrol 200 students for the MBBS course. The university charges Rs 16.37 lakh each for the first four years of the course and Rs 9 lakh for the final year. This totals to Rs 74.50 lakh for the whole course. For each year in the hostel, the university charges Rs 3 lakh. Al Falah University has a significant number of Kashmiri students, with some estimates putting it at 40 per cent.
Al-Falah University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand, has said the institution was “deeply saddened and anguished by the unfortunate developments that took place” and condemns them. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent people affected by these distressing events. We have also learnt that two of our doctors have been detained by the Investigating Agencies. We wish to make it clear that the University has no connection with the said persons apart from them being working in their official capacities with the University,” the university’s management has said.
