Turkey Trip, Telegram Chats, Jaish Handler: How the ‘Doctors Module’ Was Radicalised Before Red Fort Blast

The Red Fort car blast that shook Delhi on November 10, killing 10 and injuring more than 20, has revealed chilling details of a radicalised network of doctors allegedly linked to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

Investigators have traced the origins of the module to two encrypted Telegram groups — Farzandan-e-Darul Uloom (Deoband) and another run by a JeM handler identified as Umar bin Khattab, based in Pakistan. These online groups are believed to have played a central role in the radicalisation and coordination of the module members over the past two years.

From Online Sermons to Terror Plots

According to intelligence sources, Dr Umar Nabi, a physician from Shopian, and Imam Irfan Ahmad Wagah, also from south Kashmir, were among the first to establish contact in these Telegram circles.

Their initial exchanges reportedly revolved around themes of “Kashmir’s Aazadi” and “suppression of Muslims”, before gradually escalating to discussions on global jihad, martyrdom, and armed retribution.

Officials say the shift was deliberate — guided by Pakistan-based handlers who used targeted narratives and personal mentorship to move educated recruits toward militancy.

“These were not impulsive recruits,” a senior investigator told All India Story. “They were systematically groomed through religious discourse, encrypted communication, and peer validation.”

The Turkey Trip: A Turning Point

The investigation suggests that the radicalisation process deepened after a 2023 Turkey trip, which several members undertook under the guise of a medical exchange and conference visit.

While the trip was officially organised for professional training, intelligence sources claim it served as a cover for in-person meetings with foreign handlers linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad’s global wing.

After returning from Turkey, members reportedly began expanding their operational footprint across India — moving beyond ideological discussions to logistics, recruitment, and fund transfers.

The Doctors’ Network: How They Operated

Post-2023, the so-called “doctors module” grew into a nine to ten-member terror logistics network, of which at least five to six were qualified medical professionals.

Key suspects include:

• Dr Umar Nabi, identified as the ideological and logistical lead.

• Dr Muzammil Shakeel, posted at Al Falah Medical College in Faridabad.

• Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, serving at a medical facility in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

• Dr Shaheen Saeed, alleged to have managed safehouses and medical supply chains used to conceal materials.

Investigators believe these doctors exploited their professional access to medical chemicals, laboratory supplies, and logistics systems to assemble improvised explosive devices (IEDs) without drawing attention.

“Hospitals and labs became cover points,” an intelligence officer explained. “Some of the chemical compounds used in the Faridabad explosives are identical to those available in medical research facilities.”

The Red Fort Connection

According to Delhi Police and NIA officials, the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station on November 10 was traced back to a rental network linked to Dr Umar Nabi.

Preliminary forensics suggest the explosive device used ammonium nitrate-based compounds, similar to those recovered from Faridabad during earlier raids.

Authorities are now cross-verifying whether the Red Fort blast was a planned terror strike or a premature detonation. Investigators say the explosion occurred between 6:45–6:52 PM, killing 10 people instantly and injuring 24 others.

“The vehicle was parked strategically near a high-footfall area,” said an NIA source. “We are examining whether the trigger was remote-controlled or timed.”

Technical Investigation: Tracking the Last Calls

As part of the ongoing probe, agencies are conducting a technical forensic analysis of tower dump data from the Red Fort vicinity.

Investigators are particularly focusing on calls made by Dr Umar between 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM on the day of the blast. His contact patterns, encrypted chats, and data transfers are being analysed by the NIA’s Cyber Forensics Division.

“We’re mapping the command chain,” said an official. “Several foreign IPs and VPN trails are emerging, pointing to handlers based in Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad.”

Network Expansion Across States

After returning from Turkey, the network reportedly expanded into multiple states, using professional postings as camouflage.

• Dr Muzammil Shakeel was stationed in Faridabad, managing explosives procurement and transportation.

• Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather in Saharanpur handled recruitment and coordination.

• Associates in Pulwama, Srinagar, and Delhi managed digital communications and funding, often via cryptocurrency wallets.

The module reportedly used Telegram, Signal, and private servers to exchange manuals, diagrams, and encrypted instructions.

Pakistan-Based Coordination and Recruitment

Investigators say that Umar bin Khattab, the Jaish handler operating from Pakistan, played a central coordinating role.

He ran a Telegram channel that glorified “medical jihad” — urging educated Muslims to “serve the cause of resistance through intellect and skill.”

The group’s India-based members used these messages as ideological justification for violent action, blending religious duty with professional legitimacy.

This mirrors a growing global trend where extremist outfits recruit technically skilled professionals, using digital radicalisation networks instead of traditional training camps.

The Road Ahead: NIA Widens the Net

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now expanded its probe into the multi-state doctors’ module, connecting the Red Fort blast, Faridabad explosives seizure, and possible links to the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The agency has formed 10 specialised teams for digital forensics, financial tracing, and human intelligence verification across Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir.

More arrests are expected in the coming days as the NIA examines whether similar sleeper modules exist within professional networks — particularly in the healthcare and education sectors.

A senior counter-terror official summarised the threat succinctly:

“This is a new face of terrorism — ideologically driven, professionally camouflaged, and digitally connected. The doctors’ module is only the beginning.”