New Delhi: In a major development in the Red Fort car suicide blast case, investigation agencies on Monday conducted coordinated raids at 12 locations across Kashmir and carried out an intensive search at the Lucknow residence of Dr. Shaheen. Her family members were questioned for nearly five hours as officials searched for links to the suspected terror network.
Raids Targeting Suspected Jaish-Linked Network
According to sources, the raids in Kashmir aimed to identify and arrest suspects connected to the Red Fort car blast as well as the interstate white-collar network of Jaish-e-Mohammed. NIA teams are probing terror financing channels and searching for evidence related to the suicide explosion.
The targeted locations included the residences of:
- Maulvi Irfan Wagay (Nadigam)
- Dr. Adil and Dr. Muzammil (Malangpora, Pulwama)
- Aamir Rashid (Sambura, Pulwama)
- Jaseer Bilal Wani (Qazigund), a key conspirator in the 10 November Red Fort blast
Custody of Key Accused Extended
Earlier, NIA had searched the Saharanpur residence of arrested accused Dr. Adil Ahmed in the first week of November. The raids come at a time when a Delhi court has extended the NIA custody of Dr. Shaheen, Dr. Muzammil, Mufti Irfan Ahmed Wagay, and Dr. Adil for an additional 10 days.
NIA Searches Dr. Shaheen’s Home in Lucknow
Parallel to the Kashmir raids, NIA teams along with Uttar Pradesh ATS carried out searches in Lucknow. Dr. Shaheen, a 46-year-old pharmacology expert popularly known as “Madam Surgeon,” was born and raised in Kaiserbagh.
On Monday morning, heavy police presence accompanied the NIA team as they reached her family home.
Five Hours of Intense Questioning
The officers conducted a thorough search inside the residence and questioned Dr. Shaheen’s father Saeed Ansari, her elder brother Shoaib, and other relatives for nearly five hours. Officials seized electronic devices and several documents believed to be crucial to the investigation.