Delhi Red Fort blast: DNA test confirms blast suspect as Dr Umar; origin of explosive being traced

Blast site at Red Fort, New Delhi. Pic/PTI

Amid the intensified investigation being conducted by the authorities and the agencies in view of the tragic Delhi car blast, which happened on November 10, the Delhi Police on Thursday confirmed that the man who carried out the car blast near Red Fort was Dr Umar Un Nabi. The confirmation came after the forensic DNA testing matched his biological sample with that of his mother.

While speaking with the media, the senior police officials said the confirmation came after days of detailed forensic analysis conducted. A senior police officer further revealed that after the explosion, Umar's leg was found trapped between the steering wheel and the accelerator of the car, suggesting he was behind the wheel when the car exploded, as reported by ANI.

A Delhi police officer, while asserting about the investigation, said that "DNA profiling has conclusively identified the deceased as Dr Umar Un Nabi. His sample was matched with his mother's DNA to establish the relationship," as per ANI.

The DNA samples of Dr Umar's mother and brother were collected and sent to the AIIMS forensic laboratory, where they were matched with the remains of the bodies kept at Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi.

Speaking to the media, Dr Sudhir Gupta, Head of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, said, "DNA profiling is used in human identification to match an individual to a biological sample by analysing unique sections of their DNA. DNA profiling is considered to be a powerful tool in forensic science for identifying suspects or victims, and it also establishes biological relationships," as quoted by news agency ANI.

"This is a powerful tool and gold standard in forensic science for identifying suspects and victims and establishing biological relationships, and it is used in cases like criminal investigations, disaster victim identification, and paternity tests," he further added.

A total of 21 biological samples were sent to the FSL for examination. Moreover, a total of 12 deaths were reported in the Red Fort blast, including the primary suspect.

The remaining samples were collected from other victims and biological traces found on nearby damaged vehicles, including cars and e-rickshaws that were affected by the explosion.

Sources further said that the identification of Umar is a major breakthrough in the ongoing probe into the Delhi terror blast case, which left several people dead and triggered panic in the national capital. The blast occurred near the Red Fort, a high-security and heritage zone, raising serious security concerns.

Investigators are now focusing on tracing the origin of the explosives, possible handlers, and whether the incident was part of a larger conspiracy. Also, the forensic confirmation is expected to help the police link other evidence, including call records, CCTV footage, and material recovered from the vehicle.

The Delhi Police Special Cell and central agencies continue to jointly investigate the terror angle behind the incident, with multiple teams deployed across Delhi and neighbouring states to track possible associates of the deceased suspect.

(With inputs from ANI)