Investigators say the Faridabad terror module tried contacting Hamas drone specialists to replicate large-scale attacks in India before security agencies dismantled the group’s plans.
File image: Police personnel manage entry points outside the Red Fort as visitors continue to arrive days after the blast incident in Delhi. | Pic courtesy: ANI
Fresh findings by central agencies suggest that the Faridabad-based group behind the Red Fort blasts was attempting to reach out to Hamas operatives, hoping to secure technical guidance to mount a major terror strike in India. Investigators say the module had been studying the tactics used during Hamas’ 7 October 2023 assault on Israel and believed similar methods could help them pull off a high-impact operation.
Officials familiar with the investigation said the group held several internal discussions on replicating elements of the Israel attack, particularly its drone-led strikes. While the members had researched the modus operandi, they lacked the technological depth to build the advanced weaponry required. This gap pushed them to repeatedly attempt contact with Hamas specialists.
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The 7 October strike, which left 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals dead and saw 251 people taken hostage, has emerged as a model for several radical outfits worldwide, according to an Intelligence Bureau officer. The Faridabad module, too, viewed it as a blueprint for a spectacular attack on Indian soil.
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Investigators revealed that some members of the group were prepared to travel abroad for training, believing that Hamas engineers could help them design more potent drones and gliding rockets. Agencies also suspect that Pakistan’s ISI might eventually have arranged such a meeting, given its ongoing links with Hamas members who frequently transit through Pakistan to coordinate with local terror outfits, reported news agency IANS.
However, with Israel launching sustained retaliatory strikes post-October 7, Hamas operatives were deeply tied up in the conflict, leaving the Faridabad group unable to establish meaningful contact. The module, however, remained committed to its drone-centric plan.
A central figure in this operation, investigators say, was Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish. Tasked with pushing the drone project forward, he repeatedly stressed that consulting Hamas experts was essential to perfect a surprise aerial attack. When the module was eventually busted, security agencies recovered drone footage from his phone, along with several foreign numbers suspected to be linked to his attempted outreach.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has stated that Danish had considerable skill in modifying small drones and was working on developing rockets capable of covering at least 25 kilometres. But he lacked the technical proficiency to build larger UAVs powered by heavier batteries, a necessity for carrying sizeable explosive payloads or cameras. This technological shortfall, officials say, is what drove the group to seek Hamas’ assistance.
The scale of material recovered has only deepened concerns. Large quantities of ammonium nitrate were seized, indicating that the group was preparing for a major, high-impact strike rather than a limited attack. Officials say the intent was to make a “statement operation,” not a minor incident.
NIA officers now believe that had the module succeeded, they intended to attempt similar strikes in multiple parts of the country. The decision to approach the ISI for help in facilitating meetings abroad was already under discussion, an official said.
Ultimately, the group’s plans did not advance further. Before they could make their next move, the module was dismantled and several members, including Danish, who was arrested on November 17, were taken into custody. Officials maintain that the swift operation likely prevented a major catastrophe.
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