Srinagar, Dec 1 (KNS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out searches at eight locations in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with its probe into the Delhi Red Fort car blast case.
According to officials, the searches were conducted in the early hours in Pulwama, Shopian and other locations.
Residences of several individuals currently under investigation were searched, including those of Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay in Shopian and Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather, Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Amir Rashid in Pulwama.
The agency said the exercise aims to collect digital and physical evidence and identify possible links in the network suspected to be behind the November 10 blast near Red Fort that resulted in multiple casualties and injuries.
The search comes two days after a Delhi court extended the NIA custody of four accused — Dr Muzammil Shakeel, Dr Shaheen Saeed, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay and Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather — for 10 more days. After the extension, the four were taken back to the NIA headquarters for further questioning.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The NIA has so far arrested seven people in the case, including the registered owner of the vehicle used in the blast, Amir Rashid Ali, and Jasir Bilal Wani, who is accused of providing technical help.
Another accused, Soyab, was earlier arrested for allegedly providing shelter and logistical support to the key suspect, Umar.
Investigators say the blast occurred at 6.52 pm on November 10 near the Lal Qila Metro station when a Hyundai i20 driven by Umar Muhammad exploded.
The incident caused deaths and injuries in the surrounding area and damaged nearby vehicles.
The agency has linked the explosion to an interstate module with alleged connections to Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Officials said the focus of the current searches is to trace communication patterns, financial trails and movements of the suspects before and after the blast.(KNS).