Red Fort blast death toll rises to 13; NIA links accused doctor to Turkiye-Handler

New Delhi: The death toll from the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has risen to 13 after another victim, who was battling severe burn injuries, passed away on Thursday.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), leading the probe, has now uncovered links between the main accused doctor and a Turkiye-based handler codenamed “Ukasa.”

The accused doctor, who was driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort, is suspected to be the leader of a "white-collar group" of doctors in the terror module. He is alleged to have motivated other doctors to join the 10/11 blast plot.

The doctor had moved to Faridabad around one and a half years ago and was working as an Assistant Professor at Al Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research. He completed his MBBS from Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, and was among the state toppers in NEET-PG, securing an MD seat at the same college.

Also read- How doctors' interrogation led to unraveling of major terror plot

As per NDTV news report, the investigators are also tracking the sale and purchase of the i20 car used in the blast and tracing its journey ahead of the explosion. It has been reported that another vehicle, a red Ford EcoSport linked to the main accused doctor, was found parked in Khandawali village, Haryana, and a person associated with it has been detained for questioning.

Meanwhile, the DNA samples of the accused’s mother were collected on Tuesday (November 11) and analysed along with the remains gathered from the blast site, reports The Hindu.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that after discovering that doctors from Pulwama were allegedly involved in the “white-collar” inter-state terror module, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with intelligence agencies, detained three doctors for questioning to find out any possible links with those suspected in the Red Fort car blast case.

Two doctors have been picked up for questioning as they are said to be friends of the doctor who drove the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday, killing eight people, a toll that has now risen to 13 and injuring several others. Another doctor from Pulwama, who allegedly knew the accused and worked at a Delhi hospital, was also detained from his home in south Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research in Haryana's Faridabad, which recently came under media spotlight after two of its faculty members were detained in connection with the Faridabad terror module case, has issued a statement clarifying that it has no connection with the accused doctors apart from their official employment at the university.

The university has also reportedly come under the National Medical Commission (NMC) scanner after one of its assistant professors was named as an accused in the Red Fort car blast case. Responding to reports linking it to such incidents, the university called such claims “baseless and defamatory.”

Referring to allegations that Room 13 in Building 17 of its medical college was used by three doctors, including the main accused, for planning and coordination of the terror attack and that they stored harmful chemicals at the university's laboratory, the university clarified that no such chemicals or materials as alleged are being used, stored, or handled within its premises.

Also read- Faridabad Terror Module: Al-Falah Medical College denies links, calls reports baseless