ATS detain Kanpur medical student over suspected links with arrested lady doctor

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday held a cardiology student from Kanpur in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Delhi blast, reported PTI.

The student, identified as Dr Mohammad Arif, 32, is a first-year DM (Cardiology) student at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College, a government institution. According to a senior official, Arif was detained from an undisclosed location.

Following his detention, an ATS team raided his rented house in Ashok Nagar, Nazirabad. The team confiscated his mobile phone and laptop for forensic analysis before escorting him to Delhi for further interrogation. “He is likely to be confronted with those already arrested in the Delhi blast case,” the official stated.

Arif, hailing from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, was identified as a person of interest after the interrogation of former GSVM professor Dr Shaheen Sayeed. Sayeed, associated with Al Falah University, was earlier arrested for her alleged involvement in a “white-collar” terror network linked to the proscribed outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Sources revealed that Arif had been in contact over the phone with individuals allegedly connected to Sayeed’s group, including her brother Parvez, on the day of the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort. His recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir reportedly heightened suspicion. Officials said that when the ATS team reached his residence, Arif attempted to delete data from his phone, but officers seized the device before he could do so.

Preliminary examination of his call records and online activity suggested possible communication with the alleged masterminds and other suspects. Investigators also believe that the group used a shared email account to exchange unsent draft messages, a method often adopted by extremist groups to avoid detection.

The arrest has caused unease within GSVM Medical College, particularly among the cardiology department staff. Chief Medical Superintendent (Cardiology) Dr Gyanendra said, “Dr Arif joined here three months ago through All India counselling. He was on duty on Wednesday afternoon and later went to his accommodation outside the campus.”

He added, “Around 7 pm, we were informed that a team had taken him for questioning. He was from Kashmir. He used to come, work quietly and leave.” The college administration has reportedly begun screening all DM cardiology students as a precautionary measure.

Arif’s landlord, Kanhaiya Lal, said the doctor had been living on rent for about a month with another doctor, Abhishek, on the second floor of his house. “Around 7.30 pm, a four-member team came straight to his room. They already had the keys, searched the entire portion, locked it again, and left quietly,” Lal said. He added that Arif had submitted valid ID documents before renting the space and that he had never noticed any suspicious activity or visitors.

A senior police official, requesting anonymity, confirmed that Arif was taken into custody in Kanpur and later handed over to central investigating agencies. Kanpur Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal told PTI, “We are checking the facts. I will comment only after confirmation.”

Meanwhile, teams from the ATS and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are carrying out coordinated searches in Kanpur to trace others potentially linked to Dr Shaheen’s network. Officials said additional arrests could follow as the investigation progresses.

Earlier this week, authorities had unearthed a terror module with alleged links to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, detaining eight people, including three doctors. Hours later, a high-intensity explosion ripped through a car near Delhi’s Red Fort, killing 13 people and injuring several others. The Centre on Wednesday termed the explosion a “heinous act of terror” and directed the investigating agencies to pursue the case with “utmost urgency and professionalism.”