Following Monday’s (10 November) deadly explosion in India’s capital New Delhi, police on Wednesday (12 November) launched extensive raids across more than 200 locations in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
While the number of arrests has not been disclosed, police officials confirmed that a large cache of publications, pamphlets, and documents linked to the banned political organization Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were seized during the operations.
The explosion occurred near a metro station close to the Red Fort, a major tourist area in Delhi, killing at least 12 people and injuring around 30 others. Authorities identified the device used as a powerful improvised explosive device (IED).
Police have also identified the car’s driver as Dr. Mohammad Omar, a physician who died at the scene. Investigators said Dr. Omar was not a terrorist; rather, the bomb had been planted in his vehicle without his knowledge.
Just days before the attack, police in Faridabad, Haryana, seized more than 350 kilograms of explosives from two rented houses. The materials were suitable for making IEDs. A doctor named Muzammil Shakil, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir and a physician at Al Falah Hospital in Faridabad, was arrested in connection with the case.
During initial questioning, Shakil reportedly revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami has recently become active again in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly directed by individuals currently hiding in Pakistan. The group has been banned by the Indian government for several years due to its links with militant activities.
Based on the evidence gathered so far, police suspect a connection between the Delhi car bombing and the Faridabad explosives seizure, both possibly linked to JeI. Acting on this intelligence, authorities conducted the large-scale raids in Kulgam.
In an official statement, Jammu and Kashmir Police said, “A significant quantity of printed material and documents connected to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami have been seized. Several individuals have been detained for questioning, and verification of the confiscated materials is underway.”
