Fugitive militant behind multiple blasts in 2008 studied in Haryana's Al Falah University: Sources

Faridabad: The probe into the link between the blast in Delhi near Red Fort and a white collar terror module found that Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad had historical links to terror networks. According to sources, fugitive Indian Mujahideen (IM) bomber Mirza Shadab Baig — wanted for multiple blasts in 2008 — was an alumnus of the Faridabad-based institution, reported PTI. Several doctors associated with the university have already been arrested in connection with the Delhi blast case.

Baig, a key IM operative accused in the Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Gorakhpur attacks, completed his B.Tech in electronics and instrumentation at the university in 2007. He went missing soon after, travelling on a valid passport, and has not been seen since September 19, 2008 — the day of the Batla House encounter, sources said.

Investigative agencies believe Baig, originally from Raja Ka Qila Mohalla in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh, has been residing in Saudi Arabia and was last traced to Afghanistan in 2019.

Sources said a Punjab Police team recently visited the Al Falah campus to question faculty and students about a 45-year-old doctor detained from Pathankot. The doctor had been teaching at a medical college in Pathankot for the past three years and previously worked at Al Falah University for four years.

He reportedly remained in touch with several former classmates, and police sought details about his links to Dr Umar-un-Nabi — who was driving the explosives-filled i20 that blew up near the Red Fort — and other suspects.

15 booked
On Thursday, the NIA took custody of three doctors — Muzammil Ganaie, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed — along with preacher Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wagay, all earlier arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police in the November 10 blast that killed 15 people. With these arrests, six people have been booked in the “white-collar” conspiracy.

The NIA also re-detained a cab driver connected to the case and is questioning him alongside Ganaie, who was brought from Jammu and Kashmir. The driver was first picked up in Dhauj village, where Al Falah University is located, on Wednesday night.

Officers recovered a grinding machine and another electrical device from his home, allegedly kept there by Ganaie. Sources said Ganaie had also supplied SIM cards to some students and other associates through the driver.

Investigators are now trying to identify the location where the refined explosives found in Ganaie’s room were produced.