A preliminary examination of the red Ford EcoSport belonging to Dr. Umar Un-Nabi, the primary suspect in the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, revealed suspected traces of ammonium nitrate. This vehicle was located outside a residence near Khandawali village in Faridabad, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The car, registered in Delhi (DL10 CK 0458), was identified on Wednesday following intelligence information from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which has been monitoring vehicles allegedly utilized by the terror module connected to the blast.
A bomb disposal team from the National Security Guard (NSG) promptly arrived at Khandawali and cordoned off an area within a 50-meter radius of the vehicle. The Haryana Police established a larger perimeter of 200 meters.
Officials reported that the NSG team inspected the car to confirm it did not harbor any concealed explosive materials. “Initial inspections suggest the presence of ammonium nitrate in the vehicle. Samples have been taken for laboratory analysis,” stated a police representative. “We suspect that this explosive substance was transported in various vehicles to several locations.”
The explosion in Delhi occurred after the recovery of nearly 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, along with detonators, timers, and assault rifles.
Yashpal Singh, a spokesperson for the Faridabad Police, mentioned that the vehicle was discovered parked near the property of one Farrukh Khan, who works as an autorickshaw and JCB driver. “The car has been confiscated and transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a comprehensive forensic analysis,” Singh noted.
Khan has been taken into custody for questioning. “He is a man of modest means. No connection between him and Dr. Umar or any terrorist activities has been established thus far,” remarked a second officer.
Residents of Khandawali expressed skepticism regarding these events. “Farrukh is an ordinary man who struggles to provide for his family. It is hard to believe he has any ties to terrorists,” commented neighbor Mohammad Mubin. Another villager, Shakir Hussain, added, “He doesn’t even own a car. It is astonishing that such a vehicle was found outside his home.”
Investigators reported that the red Ford EcoSport was registered at a fraudulent address in the Seelampur region of Delhi. Nabi is believed to have utilized this vehicle for reconnaissance purposes and for transporting explosive materials prior to the blast at the Red Fort.
Officials characterized the recovery as “a significant breakthrough” in monitoring the activities of the suspects and revealing the broader network functioning throughout Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.
