Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 17: A Delhi court on Monday remanded Amir Rashid Ali, the first accused arrested in the November 10 blast near Red Fort, to 10 days’ custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Ali, who owned the Hyundai i20 car that exploded and killed 13 people, was arrested on Sunday and produced before the principal district and sessions judge.

As security personnel escorted him out of the courtroom, NDTV asked Ali, “Who gave you the order to carry out the attack?” Ali, his face covered, looked into the camera but remained silent.

The blast took place outside Red Fort Metro Station, where the i20 was used as a vehicle-borne IED. According to the NIA, Ali, a resident of Samboora in Pampore, conspired with “suicide bomber” Umar Un Nabi to execute the terror attack. Investigators said Ali travelled to Delhi to help facilitate the purchase of the car that was later fitted with explosives.

The NIA has forensically confirmed the identity of the driver as Umar Un Nabi, an assistant professor in the general medicine department at Al-Falah University in Faridabad and a resident of Pulwama. The agency has also seized another vehicle belonging to him.
So far, 73 witnesses — including several injured victims — have been examined in the case. The NIA said it is coordinating with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and other agencies to unravel the wider conspiracy and identify everyone involved.

Investigators also said Umar was linked to a “white collar” terror module that had earlier been busted with the recovery of explosives from Faridabad.