The Delhi Police on Thursday said newly acquired CCTV footage from the day of the Red Fort blast shows that the prime suspect, Dr. Umar Nabi, enters Delhi through the border toll plaza at Badarpur.
Footage also shows him walking near a mosque near Ramlila Maidan later.
Footage from the Badarpur toll plaza shows Umar driving a white Hyundai i20 and stopping at the toll gate on November 10, the day of the blast, at around 8:02 am. The car stops briefly as Umar collects the cash and hands it over to the toll operator before continuing, PTI reported.
Investigators said Umar, who was wearing a mask, repeatedly looked at the CCTV camera – apparently aware that security agencies were on his trail.
“A large bag which probably contained explosives is also seen on the back seat of the car,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.
“His repeated glances at the CCTV camera indicate that he knew the agencies were looking for him and was consciously monitoring his surroundings,” the officer added, as reported by PTI.
Later that day, another CCTV clip from an alley near a mosque near Ramlila Maidan shows Umar walking along a narrow stretch before turning his head briefly – the moment his face is clearly caught on camera. Police suspect that he visited a mosque to offer prayers before heading towards the Red Fort.
A powerful explosion rocked the capital on Monday night when the same Hyundai i20 car exploded near the Red Fort at 6.52pm, killing 13 people and injuring several others. The explosion damaged several nearby vehicles and scattered debris on the road.
Officials said Umar was captured on several CCTV footages from across Delhi on the day of the incident, including footage from the Sunehri Masjid parking lot near the Red Fort. He reportedly arrived there at 3:19 p.m. and left at 6:28 p.m., just 24 minutes before the explosion.
Forensic teams have collected more than 40 samples from the blast site, including mutilated vehicle remains and human body parts, while a special team of experts has been formed to analyze the material and determine the type of explosive used, PTI reported.
Police said they are working hard to trace Umar’s possible handlers and reconstruct his movements throughout the day to see if he had any accomplices.
(With input from agencies)
