Srinagar, Dec 9: In a major breakthrough in the deadly Delhi blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another key accused, who is believed to have provided logistical support to the suicide bomber – Dr Umar Nabi.
In a statement, issued, the NIA said that it arrested Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, a resident of Baramulla. “He was arrested in Delhi today by a team of the NIA,” it said.
So far, eight arrests have been made in connection with the Delhi blast that claimed 11 lives and injured several others on November 10 this year.
The NIA said that Dr Bilal had sheltered the suicide bomber – Dr Umar – and provided logistical support to him, including accommodation, mobility, and assistance in planning. “He was also involved in destroying evidence linked to the blast,” it said.
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The anti-terror agency believes he was part of the larger conspiracy, which led to his arrest.
On November 10, a high-intensity explosion ripped through a near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort, killing 11 people and injured several others. The blast was carried out by Dr Umar. The incident had put security agencies across Delhi and the entire country on high alert.
The NIA has so far arrested eight accused individuals, while multiple raids have been conducted across various states. The agency, working closely with central and state authorities, is mapping out the entire conspiracy network.
According to the NIA, it is tracing every angle, link, and associate connected to the terror attack to expose the full extent of the plot.
Meanwhile, the agency today morning conducted searches in the forests of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in connection with the Delhi blast case. It had brought along two key accused, including Dr Adeel and Jasir Bilal for spot identification.
The NIA team was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir police and the Army, while the two accuser led the teams to the forest area. “Some suspected items were recovered from the forest area after disclosures made by the two accused,” officials said.
During the investigation of the case, it was revealed that Dr Adeel was the close associate of Dr Umar. It was only after the arrest of Dr Adeel and Dr Muzammil that Jammu and Kashmir police busted the white-collar terror module and recovered over 2,900 kg of explosives from Haryana’s Faridabad. (KNO)
