Red Fort blast: 'How to become a killer', '44 ways to support jihad' — NIA recovers 'extremist literature'

The accused in the 2025 Red Fort blast case are said to have followed The Pocket Book of Lone Mujahid/How to Become an Assassin, which revealed the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

A car explosion near the Red Fort on November 10, 2025 killed 11 people and injured 29 others. The explosion took place around 6.50pm and caused extensive damage to nearby property and vehicles.

What is the ‘Lone Mujahid’ manual?

The NIA has allegedly linked the paperback ‘The Lone Mujahid’/How to Become an Assassin to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

It was a manual on the operational management of explosives and weapons, in addition to techniques related to covert movement, surveillance, concealment and evasion, and improvised explosive devices.

According to the chargesheet, as reported by ANI, the manual has been described as providing detailed knowledge of TATP and remote-controlled detonation along with combat, surveillance, evasion and other secret techniques.

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The document was among extremist materials allegedly accessed and disseminated by members of the terror module. The indictment refers to a number of documents and publications allegedly obtained during the investigation.

They promoted extremist ideology and contained material related to terrorist operations.

These were documents titled “Definition of Jihad”, “Requirements of Jihad”, “21 Aims and Objectives of Jihad”, “39 Ways to Serve and Participate in Jihad” and “44 Ways to Support Jihad”.

According to the NIA, the literature obtained sought to justify armed violence and encourage participation in extremist activities.

The NIA alleged that the material formed part of a larger trove of extremist literature and propaganda used by accused persons allegedly involved in the plot that culminated in the November car blast near Red Fort in Delhi.

Main brain and AGuH module

Umer Un Nabi, who was killed in a car blast in Red Fort in November 2025, was the alleged mastermind and “operational commander” of the revived terror module Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), the NIA said in its chargesheet filed in connection with the attack.

Nabi, also known as Pinda and Rahul Bhat, was inside the vehicle when the explosion occurred.

The NIA alleged that the Red Fort blast was the result of a wider conspiracy involving the revival of the AGuH module, radicalization of recruits, dissemination of extremist literature and preparations to carry out terror attacks.

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Nabi allegedly played a central role in reviving the sleeper module and organizing its activities in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi-NCR, according to the NIA.

The NIA alleged that Nabi was the “operational head” of AGuH Interim, which investigators described as a revived expression of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind linked to Al-Qaeda ideology in the Indian subcontinent.

According to the indictment, the plot to revive the dormant module was allegedly set in motion in early 2022.

According to ANI, the NIA alleged that Nabi was involved in radicalizing other members and promoted material glorifying “Shahadat” or martyrdom.

He allegedly influenced and recruited other people into the group with extremist propaganda, according to the indictment.

The NIA also referred to Nabi’s alleged plan to travel to Afghanistan for ‘Hijrat’.

The investigation alleged that members of the module held secret meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi-NCR as part of the alleged conspiracy.

Signal, encrypted communication

The accused persons were also said to be in regular contact through encrypted messaging platforms, including Signal.

According to the indictment, the use of encrypted communication platforms was part of the accused’s efforts to coordinate with each other.

The NIA further alleged that the members of the module were involved in providing finance, procuring illegal arms and providing locations for carrying out their activities.

“Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device”

According to the NIA, the car involved in the November 10, 2025 blast was allegedly used as a vehicular improvised explosive device.

The prosecution says Nabi was inside the vehicle when the explosion occurred.

DNA testing of biological material recovered from the blast site reportedly confirmed his identity, according to the investigation.

Forensic examination of the material after the explosion revealed remnants of explosives, including TATP and ammonium nitrate, the charge states.

The NIA also relied on the wreckage of the vehicle and other material recovered from the crime scene to claim that the vehicle was used as a VBIED.

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According to the agency’s case, forensic evidence indicated that the explosive device was initiated from inside the vehicle via a command mechanism.

Since Nabi died in the blast, the case against him was reduced. However, the prosecution records the findings of the NIA regarding his alleged role in the conspiracy.

The charges contained in the indictment remain subject to judicial review during the trial.