DNA test confirms Umar Un Nabi drove explosive-laden car that blew up outside Red Fort Metro station

DNA sample from body part retrieved from the car at the blast site matched with that of his mother, confirms a police officer.

CCTV footage showing Umar Un Nabi, the man who drove the explosive-laden car | By Special Arrangement

New Delhi: A DNA identification test has confirmed that Umar Un Nabi, a staffer of Faridabad’s Al-Falah University, was driving the car that blew up outside Gate 1 of the Red Fort Metro station on Monday evening.

Security agencies had earlier taken DNA samples from Umar’s mother and brother to confirm the identity of the suspect who drove the white i-20 Hyundai car.

With this vital finding, the link between Umar and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module busted in Faridabad stands confirmed, according to those aware of the probe details.

“The DNA test has confirmed what was clear through circumstantial evidence. The DNA sample from the body part taken from the car at the site matched with the DNA sample of his (Umar) mother,” a police officer told ThePrint.

The high-intensity blast has killed 13 people and left 31 injured, so far. On Wednesday, the Centre formally declared the incident an act of terror, “perpetrated by anti-national forces”.

The DNA sample report comes at a time after the Delhi Police recovered crucial footage from the Kamla Nagar market, where Umar visited hours before the blast. His only picture without a mask so far was captured on CCTV at this juncture.

A native of Pulwama, Umar had a long friendship with another accused, Muzamil, who the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police arrested days before the blast from Al-Falah University.

Umar was found to be very “close” to Shopian-based Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay, whose interrogation gave the first link that helped in busting the terror module whose presence initially appeared only through posters around 17 October in the outskirts of Srinagar.

Meanwhile, a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guards (NSG) bomb squad recovered the second car registered in Umar’s name. The vehicle, an EcoSport, was located at a farmhouse of Umar’s friend in Faridabad. It has been handed over to forensic experts for analysis.

(Edited by Tony Rai)