Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad, already under investigation for its possible role in the Delhi car blast near the Red Fort, has now come under deeper scrutiny. It has been found that the university had hired a professor who was earlier dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration for alleged links with terrorist organisations.
The blast that shook Delhi on Monday (10th November), killed 13 till today and injured around two dozen others. It happened near the Red Fort Metro Station during rush hour, tearing through several vehicles and keeping the city on high alert. The blast was allegedly carried out by Dr Umar Nabi Bhatt who worked at the Al Falah University.
Two other doctors from the university, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie and his girlfriend Dr. Shaheen Shahid, were arrested before the blasts after massive amounts of explossive materials and weapons were found in their possesion. Two other doctors have also been arrested in the case, all of them were working for Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Professor dismissed under the National Security law
Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, who was teaching in the Department of Medicine at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, had been removed from government service in Jammu and Kashmir last year, according to documents accessed by NDTV.
In an order issued by Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in 2023, it was stated that Dr Nisar was dismissed under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution of India. Under this provision, the government is competent to dismiss or remove a public servant without instituting a departmental inquiry if it is satisfied that the person involved poses a threat to the security of the state.
The government order stated: “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.”
Documents accessed by NDTV confirm 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.
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.
Delhi blast linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed
The investigations into the Delhi blast have taken many shocking twists. Two days after the blast near the Red Fort, investigators claimed to have unearthed a terror plot similar to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Sources said that the plan, suspected to be scripted by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, aimed at conducting a series of coordinated attacks at several important spots across Delhi, such as Red Fort, India Gate, Constitution Club, and Gauri Shankar Temple.
According to investigators, more than 200 IEDs were being prepared for deployment not only in Delhi but also in Gurugram and Faridabad. The motive of the group, sources said, was to create communal tension by targeting religious sites and public places.
Doctors at the centre of the terror plot
Investigators revealed that several doctors from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag districts were involved in this terror network. These doctors allegedly provided what authorities described as a “white-collar cover” for the group. Their professional identities allowed them to move across Delhi-NCR without raising suspicion.
The module reportedly operated from rural areas near Faridabad, including Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga, where explosives were stored and assembled.
Among those arrested are Dr Shaheen Saeed, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, and Dr Adeel Rather. Another key suspect, Dr Umar Nabi, is believed to have been the suicide bomber who died in the explosion near the Red Fort. All of them had medical backgrounds, and several had worked with or been associated with Al-Falah University.
The Al-Falah Connection
Both Dr Shaheen Shahid and Dr Muzammil Ganaie were teaching at Al-Falah University before their arrest. Investigators found that the two were in regular contact.
Dr Shaheen Shahid was arrested after police recovered an assault rifle and ammunition from her vehicle. Officials said she was working to set up a women’s wing of the Jaish-e-Mohammed group. In another raid, Dr Muzammil Ganaie was caught with close to 2,900 kilograms of explosives, considered one of the biggest seizures in recent times.
At least three more doctors from Al-Falah University have also been detained for questioning to verify their possible role or connections to the group.
With the police investigation still underway, Al-Falah University is at the centre of a growing web of terror-related suspicions. Al-Falah University, which was established in 2014, has denied any links to terror organisations.