Delhi Red Fort Blast Jaish-e-Mohammed Links Revealed in Deadly Attack

New Delhi: The investigation into the deadly car blast near Delhi’s historic Red Fort has uncovered significant links to the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), sources said. The explosion, which killed nine people and injured more than 20, involved a Hyundai i20 packed with ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

Authorities have traced two distinct connections between the blast and JeM. The first involves a terror module directly responsible for executing the attack, while the second centers on Shaheena Shahid, a medical professional in whose car authorities found an assault rifle and ammunition. Shahid is believed to be leading the JeM women’s wing in India.

Shahid, along with her accomplice Dr. Mujammil Shakeel, who worked at Al-Falah Hospital in Faridabad, were arrested on Monday. The police also recovered nearly 2,900 kg of explosive material from Shakeel’s properties, including ammonium nitrate — the same chemical used in the Red Fort blast.

A second doctor, Adil Ahmed Rather, was arrested from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Investigators suspect a third member of the module, Dr. Umar Mohammed, may have triggered the blast in panic following the arrests of Shakeel and Rather, raising the possibility of a suicide attack.

The use of medical professionals in terror operations signals a disturbing evolution in JeM’s strategy, highlighting a “white-collar” approach to extremism where educated individuals are recruited for logistics, procurement, and execution of attacks.

The terror group, founded by Masood Azhar, has previously carried out high-profile attacks including the 2019 Pulwama assault and the Pahalgam killings in April 2025. Following repeated strikes by Indian forces on its training camps, JeM has been rebuilding its network with support from the Pakistan deep state. Part of this strategy includes a women’s wing, the Jamat ul-Muminat, headed by Sadiya Azhar, which focuses on recruitment and indoctrination of women near JeM’s remaining camps.

Investigators continue to expand their probe across multiple states to uncover deeper networks linked to the Red Fort blast, emphasizing the evolving threat posed by sophisticated terror modules operating within professional sectors.