NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet in the Red Fort blast case has revealed that Lal Mandir in Chandni Chowk was allegedly the original target of bomber Umar-un-Nabi. However, heavy traffic and police presence near the temple forced him to abandon the plan and move toward the Red Fort.
On November 10 last year, around 13 minutes before the explosive-laden i20 exploded near the Red Fort, Umar was seen trying to park the car near Lal Mandir. CCTV footage captured him attempting to park at around 6.37 pm. He later took a U-turn and drove towards Gate No. 4 of the Red Fort, where he detonated the IED at around 6.50 pm.
The details are part of the chargesheet recently filed by the NIA in connection with the blast. The agency has described the incident as the first reported vehicle-borne IED (VBIED) attack in the national capital and detailed how the attack was planned and carried out.
According to the chargesheet, Umar initially tried to position the car near Lal Mandir but changed his plan after finding heavy traffic and police deployment in the area. CCTV footage helped investigators reconstruct his movements before the blast.
After leaving Chandni Chowk, Umar reached the area near Gate No. 4 of the Red Fort, where he detonated the explosive-laden vehicle.
The NIA said the IED was triggered through a remote “command mechanism” fitted into one of Umar’s shoes. A metal piece attached to the heel of one shoe was recovered near the i20. Forensic examination found traces of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), potassium and ammonium nitrate on it.
Investigators also recovered other evidence from the car, including a nasal swab that matched the DNA of Umar’s parents, confirming his identity as the bomber, the chargesheet said.
A forensic examination of explosives recovered from Umar’s associates in Faridabad and linked to the blast in Nowgam, Jammu and Kashmir, also detected the same chemicals, which the NIA said established the existence of the terror module.
The chargesheet said the stability and impact of TATP depend on how it is stored, including keeping it in a cold environment and maintaining around 10 per cent water content. Witnesses told investigators that Umar kept his room extremely cold and that a foul smell often came from it.
Umar and other accused had also purchased collapsible water bags, which were allegedly used to keep the prepared TATP under wet conditions. According to the chargesheet, water was regularly added to the IED to maintain the stability of the explosive mixture.
The NIA also recovered a terror manual titled “Lone Mujahid Pocket Book”, published in the “Inspire” magazine associated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The agency said the module was following the material, which contained operational information on explosives, weapons, vehicles, arson and covert activities, including chapters on TATP and remote-control mechanisms for detonating IEDs.
The NIA chargesheet said the blast killed 11 people and injured 29 others. Post-mortem reports submitted by the hospital attributed the deaths to the “high-intensity blast wave effect”.
The blast also damaged nearby structures. The total damage was assessed at Rs 17.7 lakh by authorities, including the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Public Works Department (PWD), the chargesheet said.
Investigators also found details about Umar’s movements before the blast. On October 30, he met an acquaintance behind Al Falah Hospital, handed him his room key and asked him to bring his “shoes” from the almirah. The chargesheet said Umar was already wearing shoes at the time and appeared distressed because Jammu and Kashmir Police had by then raided the terror module.
While hiding in Nuh, Umar allegedly stored his urine in a polythene bag instead of going outside to dispose of it. The woman who owned the house noticed the foul smell and complained to her husband, according to the chargesheet.
The NIA also found a PDF explaining an alternative method of preparing explosives using urea nitrate. The material mentioned “extracting urea from urine” as a possible source of urea.
On November 7, three days before the blast, Umar allegedly bought a new T-shirt, a wine-coloured shirt and green cargo pants from a shop in Nuh, paying in cash, the chargesheet said. - The Statesman/ANN
