Disturbing Footage
Dr. Umar Mohammad, the 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, appears in a disturbing self-recorded video that has now surfaced, offering a chilling and unfiltered look into the mindset of the man behind the November 10 suicide bombing near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 13 people and injured more than 20. The footage, recovered during an intensive digital forensic sweep, has quickly become a central element in the expanding national investigation. Officials say the video captures not only his final message but also the ideological conditioning that preceded the attack.
Investigators confirm that the clip was found on encrypted storage linked to Umar’s terror network. Described by officials as both a confession and a piece of extremist propaganda, the video was recorded shortly before the explosion and reveals a carefully constructed justification rooted in radical interpretations promoted by Jaish-e-Mohammed.
What He Said
The video shows Umar seated inside a dim room, staring directly into the camera with a calm but unsettling confidence. He frames the attack not as an act of violence but as a religious duty. At several points in the footage, he asserts:
- “This is not suicide. Suicide is forbidden. This is martyrdom.”
- “I have been chosen for this operation and I accept it with honour.”
- “Every believer must stand firm. This act is my responsibility.”
Officials say the wording mirrors the rhetoric used by radical organisations to justify violence and recruit vulnerable individuals. His tone, described as rehearsed and deliberate, indicates he intended the video to be seen by others.
NIA Crackdown
The emergence of the video has accelerated operations led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Within days, teams executed raids across Delhi, Faridabad, Srinagar and Pulwama, arresting several individuals believed to have provided Umar with logistical support, explosives, funds and encrypted communication channels.
A rented flat in Faridabad was found stocked with ammonium nitrate, detonators, timing devices and battery circuits. Investigators believe these materials were part of preparations for multiple coordinated attacks, suggesting the Red Fort blast may have been only one element of a larger plan.
Officials say the network had been in operation for months, using coded language and secure apps to evade detection.
Cross-Border Links
Interrogations and digital evidence have revealed connections to extremist handlers across the border. Preliminary assessments indicate that Umar and his associates received ideological guidance and possibly operational instructions from individuals linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Funding trails traced by financial intelligence units show that between 15 and 20 lakh rupees were funneled into the module through hawala channels. This money was used to buy chemicals, electronic components, vehicles and secure rentals. Officials also discovered attempts to procure small projectile devices and drone-based delivery systems, raising concerns about sophisticated future attack plans.
Radicalisation Path
One of the most disturbing elements of the case is Umar’s profile. A trained doctor with a promising career, he was known to be quiet and academically strong. Investigators believe his radicalisation happened gradually through private meetings and encrypted online sermons.
The language in the video suggests exposure to structured extremist doctrine. Security experts warn that highly educated individuals being targeted for indoctrination marks a dangerous shift in recruitment strategies.
Security Response
Following the discovery of the video, the government has ordered heightened surveillance of communication channels to prevent the footage from being used for recruitment or propaganda. Security measures have been tightened at heritage locations, metro stations, government buildings and high-density public areas.
Authorities are also scanning darknet platforms, cloud backups and VPN-masked accounts to identify anyone who may have interacted with Umar or accessed the propaganda material.
Digital Trail
Forensic teams are reconstructing Umar’s final seventy-two hours to understand his movements and accomplices. Metadata from the clip indicates it was filmed in a temporary safe house where equipment and explosive materials were stored.
Recovered memory cards, encrypted chat logs and deleted files are being analysed to map the hierarchy of the module. Investigators believe this will expose the flow of instructions from radical handlers to on-ground operatives.
The NIA is preparing a detailed chargesheet that will outline the entire terror ecosystem behind the attack. Officials say the objective is to dismantle every link, from indoctrination pipelines to foreign facilitators.
