The blast that shook Delhi outside the Red Fort has taken an alarming twist as police are now confirming that Irfan Ahmad Wagah, a cleric based in Uttar Pradesh, is allegedly the mastermind behind what transpired. He is said to have been planning this for the past few months, working with multiple handlers and posing as if he were working in various religious institutions.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police’s Special Cell officials reportedly found digital and financial links to several radical groups operating in and around Northern India. His arrest has provided a vital lead in relation to a larger group thought to have been orchestrating coordinated attacks in several key cities.
How Was the Plot Hatched
According to intelligence inputs, Wagah is reported to have radicalised a small group of his followers and tasked them with effecting the blast by the Lal Quila Metro Station, where large crowds of tourists and local commuters transversing the main road would be spotted. Investigators believe he provided the ideological basis, logistical assistance, and was even able to arrange coverage for expenses through shell accounts.
A senior official has said Wagah communicated instructions using both coded sermons and encrypted chat platforms so as to avoid being traced in his instruction process. After several electronic devices and documents were seized during the raids, they will be considered for evidence of foreign involvement.
Potential Connections to Faridabad Terror Module
According to various sources, the blast near the Red Fort has been linked to a terrorist module operating out of Faridabad, where authorities seized over 2,900 kg of explosives-making chemicals earlier this week. Investigators claim the module was operating with financial and ideological ties to Wagah’s network, which points to an organized underground cell with cross-border links. In the course of conducting raids in Delhi and Haryana, police also seized a rifle, in addition to fake identity documents, providing further evidence of a larger conspiracy.
A Similar Pattern of Radicalisation
Investigators have characterised Wagah as a zealous cleric, soft-spoken yet hardline in ideology, using his religious outreach programs and community welfare outreach to recruit young men. He reportedly underwent a radical transformation when he met with prominent Wahabi-practising evangelists in Pakistan five years ago.
The Red Fort blast has reinforced the need for tighter surveillance and intelligence coordination both in the state and inter-state settings. Though a significant breakthrough in the cases, long-standing officials suggest that several of Wagah’s associates remain at large.
As Delhi recovers from the tragedy, the investigation looks toward dismantling the remaining cells connected to Wagah and preventing any further instances of extremist violence.
