Gurgaon: The Aravali forests and isolated fields in Faridabad became testing grounds for a white-coat terror module allegedly led by three Al-Falah University doctors. According to the chargesheet filed by NIA, the group tested improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and firearms deep in the forests as it prepared for the suicide bombing that claimed 15 lives near Red Fort on Nov 10 last year.Dr Umer Un Nabi, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie and Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather allegedly experimented with explosive mixtures in fields, refined their methods through test blasts inside forests and later moved to preparing larger quantities of IEDs. The chargesheet said the white-coat module initially worked with fertiliser-based mixtures before turning to TATP (triacetone triperoxide) after tests demonstrated its destructive potential.The explosives trail began close to the university. Umer, Ganaie and Jasir Bilal Wani, a student accused of assisting the module, allegedly tested nitro-glycerine near a tubewell on the Al-Falah campus in Sept-Oct last year. The explosive had been prepared in Ganaie’s flat, according to NIA.The trio later conducted test blasts in a field outside the university before moving further deep into the Faridabad Aravalis. In a forested area of Dhauj, Umer and Ganaie are said to have carried out additional TATP tests. NIA said remnants of a pipe-like device used in one such test were later recovered at Ganaie’s instance.The weapons trail ran alongside the explosives experiments. The chargesheet alleged that Dr Shaheen Shahid, an associate professor at Al-Falah’s pharmacology department, provided around Rs 16 lakh to members of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), a militant outfit founded in Kashmir in 2016 and linked to al-Qaida’s ideology. NIA also alleged that the money, routed through Ganaie, was used to procure a Krinkov rifle, an AK-47 and two pistols.During Adeel’s visit to Al-Falah in Oct-Nov 2024, Ganaie, Adeel and Shaheen allegedly test-fired the Krinkov in another forested area of Dhauj. NIA also alleged that rented premises in Khori Jamalpur and Dhauj were subsequently used to store chemicals, equipment and explosives away from public view.The procurement, too, was systematic. Umer, Ganaie, Shaheen and Wani went to markets in Gurgaon and Faridabad to buy fertilisers, chemicals, electrical equipment, trolley bags, collapsible water bags, gas stoves and other material required for the module’s preparations. These were initially kept in flats on the Al-Falah campus before being shifted to rented properties near Dhauj.Wani, a Qazigund resident and political science graduate, allegedly brought technical expertise to the group. NIA said he repeatedly visited Al-Falah, helped prepare explosives and assisted in moving raw materials to rented premises. He also allegedly prepared rocket-type IEDs while staying in Umer’s room.By early 2025, the module had allegedly fabricated several “suitcase-type IEDs” and shifted part of the stock to another rented property in Dhauj. A major cache was later recovered from Fatehpur Taga – around 2,600kg of ammonium nitrate was seized on Nov 9, a day before the blast.The Red Fort blast not just killed 15, it left 29 others injured as well. Umer, identified as the suicide bomber, died when the i20 he was driving exploded near the crowded metro station.The NIA chargesheet also explained why Umer chose to remain at Al-Falah despite receiving a higher paying offer in Pathankot. The campus, NIA said, provided easy access to chemicals, fertilisers, electrical gadgets, vehicles, firearms and members of AGuH.“That is because if Umer had chosen to move out of Al-Falah, his entire racket for hatching conspiracy with the co-accused and others would not have taken shape,” the chargesheet stated.
