Delhi Red Fort blast: Arrested doctor recced Red Fort many times in Jan

An analysis of dump data retrieved from the mobile phone of Dr Muzammil Ganaie who was arrested after police busted a whitecollar terror module recently showed that he conducted multiple reconnaissances of the Red Fort area in January this year officials saidPolice said they suspect these recces were part of a larger conspiracy to target the historic monument on Republic Day but were foiled due to intensified patrolling in the area at the timeHours after police busted the terror module with links to JaisheMohammed and Ansar GhazwatulHind and arrested eight people including three doctors a highintensity blast ripped through a slowmoving car near Delhis Red Fort area killing 12 people and injuring several othersAround 2500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate potassium chlorate and sulphur were seized after police busted the terror module which spanned across Jammu and Kashmir Haryana and Uttar PradeshAccording to Forensic Science Laboratory FSL that collected around 40 samples from the blast site preliminary analysis suggested that one of the explosive samples is likely to be ammonium nitrateA senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that analysis of the dump data showed Dr Muzammils repeated presence in and around the Red Fort area in the first week of JanuaryAlong with Dr Umar Nabi an assistant professor at the AlFalah Univesity who is said to have been driving the car that exploded on Monday Dr Muzammil visited the Red Fort multiple times to study the security arrangements and crowd density patterns Their movements were corroborated through tower location data and CCTV footage collected from nearby areas officials saidThese visits were part of a detailed reconnaissance ahead of a planned attack on January 26 the officer saidMeanwhile the forensics team has collected around 40 samples from the blast site including two cartridges live ammunition and samples of two different types of explosivesPreliminary analysis suggests that one of the explosive samples could be ammonium nitrate officials saidDuring the investigation on Monday 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate was recovered from Faridabad where Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed both connected to AlFalah University were arrestedThe second explosive sample is believed to be more powerful than ammonium nitrate Its exact composition will be confirmed after detailed forensic examination an official saidAccording to officials the forensics team found the cartridges while inspecting the spotFurther investigation is underway to determine the nature of the explosives and how they were used in the blast they saidAs part of the ongoing probe into the modules activities Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday detained a preacher from Mewat in HaryanaMaulvi Ishtiyaq who has been brought to Srinagar was staying in a rented house within the Al Falah University complex in Faridabad It was from his home that police had recovered more than 2500 kilograms of explosives officials saidMaulvi Ishtiyaq who will be the ninth person to be nabbed in the case is likely to be placed under arrestMeanwhile Delhi Police has been carrying out massive checking across the national capital in the aftermath of the explosionPolice personnel and paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers at all the entry and exit points of Delhi Vehicles entering and leaving the city are being thoroughly checked as part of the intensified security measuresSenior police officers are personally supervising the security checks at interstate borders including Ghazipur Singhu Tikri and Badarpur Vehicles are being checked randomly at markets metro stations railway terminals and bus stands officials saidA senior police officer said that all district units and specialised wings have been directed to remain on alert and increase patrolling in crowded areasWe are taking no chances The focus is on maintaining public confidence and ensuring that the city remains secure the officer saidSniffer dogs metal detectors and antisabotage teams are pressed into service at sensitive locationsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever