Jammu and Kashmir Police, in collaboration with Haryana Police, executed one of the most significant anti-terror operations of 2025. On November 9, 2025, a joint team arrested seven suspects, including Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather and Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, for their alleged role in a Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked terror module.
The arrests followed an extensive surveillance effort that began after the discovery of an AK-47 rifle in Dr. Rather’s locker at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag. Intelligence inputs soon indicated that the suspects were part of a wider network transporting arms and explosives from Kashmir to northern India.
350 Kilograms of Explosives Found in Faridabad Hideout
During interrogation, crucial leads emerged that directed investigators to a hideout in Faridabad, Haryana. Acting swiftly, the joint team raided the location and made a shocking recovery- 350 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, two AK-47 rifles, a pistol, and large quantities of ammunition.
According to senior police officials, the explosives were being assembled for improvised explosive device (IED) attacks targeting Delhi-NCR and other regions. The scale of the recovery and the professionalism of its concealment pointed to a highly coordinated plot.
One officer described the operation as “a major success that prevented a Pulwama-style attack near the national capital.” Investigators say the seizure was sufficient to cause devastation across multiple high-density zones had the plan succeeded.
Plot Resembled the 2019 Pulwama Bombing
Authorities have drawn clear parallels between this foiled plot and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, which killed 40 Indian soldiers. Both involved ammonium nitrate-based IEDs and showed signs of foreign coordination and training.
Officials believe that the Faridabad operation was part of a larger revival attempt by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and possibly Al-Qaeda-linked cells, aiming to reestablish their operational networks in North India. The methods and materials recovered strongly suggest influence and tactical similarities to Pakistan-based handlers.
Doctors and Radicalisation Within Civil Institutions
The involvement of medical professionals has sent shockwaves through the country. Both Dr. Rather and Dr. Shakeel, once respected members of the healthcare community, allegedly used their positions and institutional access to move weapons and explosives unnoticed.
Investigators believe the doctors were radicalised over time, possibly through online propaganda and covert handlers. The use of professionals inside trusted institutions marks a disturbing evolution in terror recruitment, where extremist ideologies seep into mainstream professions to avoid suspicion.
This incident has prompted the J&K Police and central agencies to call for stronger vetting, monitoring, and background checks across all public institutions, particularly in sensitive regions.
NIA Takes Over Investigation, Probing International Links
Given the scope and cross-border implications, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken charge of the probe. The NIA is examining financial trails, encrypted communication, and digital correspondence between the suspects and possible handlers in Pakistan.
Preliminary evidence suggests potential coordination with Al-Qaeda operatives, and investigators are verifying whether the explosives or weapons had foreign origins. The NIA has deployed forensic teams to study the chemical makeup of the ammonium nitrate and its transport chain.
The agency has described the case as “a high-priority threat to national security,” with multiple state police units assisting under central coordination.
A Wake-Up Call for National Security
The operation has reaffirmed the crucial role of J&K Police in identifying and intercepting terror activities before they escalate. By uncovering a module capable of executing IED attacks in Delhi-NCR, the police and intelligence agencies have likely prevented a major national tragedy.
Security analysts say this bust is a turning point for India’s internal security strategy, exposing how militant organisations are adapting by embedding within professional and academic ecosystems. The involvement of doctors has made this case both shocking and symbolic a reminder that radicalisation can thrive anywhere, even behind white coats.
As the NIA continues to unearth links to Pakistan and Al-Qaeda, this case stands as one of the most important counter-terror operations in recent years a blend of intelligence precision, inter-state cooperation, and swift action that likely saved countless lives.
