Red Fort Suspects Planned Pulwama-Like Attack In Kashmir, Arrests Forced Change Of Plan | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 13, 2025, 12:12 IST

Explaining how the group operated and their objective, an Intel source said the cleric’s job was indoctrination, while Umar was the “executioner”

The source said the move showed that the group had “bitten off more than they could chew” and was mentally unprepared for large-scale violence. (PTI)

The terrorists behind the Red Fort blast in New Delhi wanted to execute a Pulwama-style attack in Kashmir but the arrest of one of the operatives foiled their plans, forcing them to settle for the Capital as a last-ditch measure, CNN-News18 has learnt.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, an intelligence source detailed the core team behind the attack that killed 13 people and injured several others on Monday evening when a slow-moving car exploded near the Red Fort metro station.

“The core team included five people—Umar [the bomber], cleric Maulvi Irfan, doctors Adeel Rather and Muzammil Shakeel, and a woman. The woman financed Muzammil as she was his girlfriend but we are still not sure how involved she was. Apart from this, there are two people on the periphery but they seem to be important. These are Adeel’s brother Muzaffar who has fled to Afghanistan and Aamir, who bought the car," the source said.

Explaining the foreign connection of the terror module, the source said: “There are three handlers, including Ukasa and Hashim. Of these Ukasa and the unnamed handler are Kashmiri but claim to be in Afghanistan. There are also claims about Hashim that sometimes he is in Afghanistan or Pakistan. When Muzammil, Muzaffar and Umar went to Turkey in 2022, Ukasa had provided them accommodation. The three wanted to move to Afghanistan but were unable to do so. There was also a Syrian refugee who was in touch with Ukasa who took care of the trio. The three stayed for 15-20 days and came back."

Apart from this, the source said several calls of the cleric in the net have been traced to Afghanistan in the last two months, while phone data of operative Muzaffar shows links to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Explaining how the group operated and their objective, the source said Irfan’s job was indoctrination, while Umar was the “executioner". The rest of the module, he said, was for support.

“Their purpose was to prepare for Jihad mentally and by gathering all explosives and making plans. The details are still sketchy as Umar has died but they must have discussed the targets for the attacks. They believed that there would be a genocide against Muslims in India and they would then retaliate," the source said.

The source added: “We have also learnt that they wanted to execute the plan in Kashmir with the help of an explosives-laden car and fuel oil. Exactly like what happened in Pulwama. But Muzammil’s arrest ruined their plans and Umar, in haste, targeted Red Fort."

However, the source said the move showed that the group had “bitten off more than they could chew" and was mentally unprepared for large-scale violence.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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