Jammu & Kashmir Police Uncover 'White-Collar' Terror Module Involving Radicalized Doctors
In a significant security breakthrough, Jammu & Kashmir Police have uncovered a sophisticated "white-collar" terror module that involved several medical professionals. Officials revealed on Sunday that the radicalized individuals formed a new terrorist organization called "Ansar Interim" to carry out subversive activities across the Union Territory and beyond.
Origins and Formation of Ansar Interim
The case first came to light on October 19 when Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) posters appeared on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar. Following the discovery, Srinagar police registered a case and analyzed CCTV footage, leading to the arrest of three local individuals with prior stone-pelting cases:
- Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil
- Yasir-ul-Ashraf
- Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid
Their interrogation proved crucial, leading investigators to Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam from Shopian. Ahmad allegedly supplied the posters and used his position to radicalize medical professionals.
Doctors and Preachers Form Terror Organization
Investigators discovered that in April 2022, a secret meeting took place at Eidgah in downtown Srinagar. The attendees included:
- Doctors Muzamil Gannie, Umer-un-Nabi (now deceased), and Adeel Rather
- Adeel's brother Muzzafar Rather (currently absconding)
- Maulvi Irfan Ahmad
- Qari Aamir
- Tufail Gazi
During this clandestine gathering, the group decided to establish the terror organization "Ansar Interim" with specific leadership roles:
- Adeel Rather was named the 'Ameer' (chief)
- Maulvi Irfan Ahmad became 'Deputy Ameer'
- Muzamil Gannie was appointed treasurer
Officials noted that the name "Ansar" is commonly associated with the globally banned terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, indicating ideological alignment with international jihadist networks.
Operational Planning and Material Acquisition
The arrested individuals revealed to interrogators that they formed this new group after losing contact with active terrorists. They established clear operational structures, with Umer-un-Nabi taking charge as coordinator while also handling finances and procurement alongside Gannie.
In 2023, the group began actively acquiring materials for their operations. They procured fertilizer from Sohna and Nuh in Haryana, and on Umer's instructions, purchased NPK (commonly known as Potassium Nitrate in this context) from a chemical shop in Faridabad.
Umer reportedly watched online videos to learn rudimentary Improvised Explosive Device (IED) construction techniques. He successfully managed to prepare Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), a highly unstable peroxide explosive that has been used in numerous terrorist attacks worldwide as filling for IEDs.
Recruitment and Failed Suicide Attack
Adeel Rather began recruiting additional members for the organization, bringing in an individual named Danish alias Jasir from South Kashmir. Adeel took Danish to a rented accommodation within Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where both witnessed Umer and Gannie preparing TATP explosive materials.
Umer later attempted to persuade Danish to carry out a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack. However, Danish backed out at the last moment, citing his poor economic condition and expressing the belief that suicide is forbidden in Islam.
Key Operative and Planned VBIED Attack
Umer-un-Nabi, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, emerged as the most radicalized member and key operative in a network spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Officials suspect he had been planning a powerful Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast.
The intended target was either a crowded location in the national capital or a site of religious importance. Umer planned to place the explosive device and then flee the scene before detonation.
Plot Collapse and Premature Explosion
The terror plot collapsed when Srinagar police arrested Muzamil Gannie and seized explosives from the group. This development caused Umer to panic, leading to a premature explosion outside the Red Fort on November 10 that killed over a dozen people.
Further investigation revealed that Umer had previously attempted unsuccessfully to join terrorist groups in both 2016 and 2018, indicating a long-standing radicalization process.
National Investigation Agency Takes Over
The case has now been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a comprehensive investigation into this inter-state terror network. The involvement of educated professionals in such activities has raised serious concerns about radicalization patterns among India's educated youth.
This case represents one of the most sophisticated terror modules uncovered in recent years, highlighting the evolving nature of terrorist recruitment and operations in the region.
