A doctor from Pathankot has been detained by a central investigation agency in connection with the 10th November Delhi blast near the Red Fort that killed 13 people. The doctor, identified as Dr Rayees Ahmad Bhat, is a 45-year-old surgeon working with a private hospital in Pathankot. He was taken into custody on Friday, 14th November afternoon and moved to an undisclosed location for questioning.
Dr Bhat had earlier worked at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, which has come under the scanner after several of its former and current staff members were linked to the case. The university has been described as terror-tainted in the ongoing investigation. Sources said Dr Bhat was in touch with Dr Umar Nabi, who drove the explosive-laden car that went off near the Red Fort.
Investigators seized Dr Bhat to find out whether he was connected to what they describe as a “white-collar” network linked to terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Police officials denied rumours that the arrest was made by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They said another special investigation unit handled the operation. Even local police were not informed until Dr Bhat’s wife approached them, reporting that her husband was missing and his phone was switched off.
Following Dr Bhat’s detention, more arrests have been made. Another doctor and an MBBS student from Al-Falah University were picked up for questioning after raids by the Delhi Police Special Cell and central agencies in Haryana’s Dhauj and Nuh areas. Earlier, a doctor named Rihan, who also studied at Al-Falah Medical College, was taken into custody.
The probe also led to the recovery of a massive cache of arms and explosives, including nearly 2,900 kilograms of material used to make IEDs, from the rented premises of another doctor, Muzammil Shakeel, who also worked at Al-Falah. Soon after, Dr Shaheen Shahid, said to be involved in forming a women’s wing for the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed group, was arrested.
Following multiple arrests and raids involving staff from Al-Falah University, the Enforcement Directorate has now launched a separate investigation into the institution’s funding and financial links.