The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has escalated its probe into the November 10 Red Fort car blast—killing 13 and injuring over 20—by officially labeling Pulwama doctor Dr. Umar Nabi as a “suicide bomber” for the first time, intensifying the search for his final two mobile phones among five SIM cards deactivated on October 30, the same day associate Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie was detained, to reconstruct his digital exchanges with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) handlers in the ‘white-collar’ terror module spanning Faridabad, Delhi, and Kashmir.
Digital Footprint Chase: Five SIMs and Two Vanished Phones
NIA teams are combing telecom records and device traces for Nabi’s five SIMs, with the last two—used between October 30 and November 10—critical to decoding operational commands, as one handled routine calls and the other secure messaging. Deactivation timing aligns with Ganaie’s arrest, suggesting panic; recovered devices from raids yielded partial chats via encrypted apps like Threema, but the missing phones hold the blast prelude.
CCTV Surveillance: Mapping the 65-Camera Trail
Forensic analysis of 65 CCTV footages charts Nabi’s path: October 30 timestamp from Dhauj market (800m from Al-Falah University) captures him in a medical store, black bag in tow, charging one phone while clutching another—indicating compartmentalized use for terror comms. November 10 footage shows the Hyundai i20 at Ferozepur Jhirka ATM at 1:07 AM, where Nabi withdrew ₹76,000 in two lots, his erratic behavior signaling handler pressure.
Eyewitness Insights: Anxious Demeanor and Hidden Cargo
ATM guard Mohar Singh described Nabi’s “family emergency” pretext, impatience, and bedsheet-covered rear items (likely explosives); tipped ₹1,000, Nabi drove off hastily. Dhaba server Akram Khan recalled nightly “restless” visits—quick meals, road vigilance, ₹100 tips—painting a portrait of mounting paranoia: “He ate fast, eyes on vehicles, like waiting for someone.”
Broader Probe Ramifications: JeM Module and Safety Protocols
This trail links Nabi to the Faridabad doctor network (Ganaie, Adeel Rather), with NIA probing ammonium nitrate procurement for serial blasts. The “suicide bomber” tag elevates urgency; Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed protocols, mandating enhanced digital forensics and explosive handling amid Kashmir connections.
