Haldwani Imam arrested in pre-dawn raid for alleged links to Red Fort blast accused

In a significant development in the ongoing probe into the Delhi blast case, a joint team of the NIA and Delhi Police arrested an Imam from Banbhulpura in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, during a pre-dawn raid on Saturday.

According to officials, the arrest was made after investigators found the Imam’s alleged links with the main accused, Umar-un-Nabi.

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Haldwani police confirmed the Imam’s arrest, stating that Delhi Police traced mobile call records suggesting his contact with Umar, the deceased terrorist who had detonated an explosive-laden car near the Red Fort on November 10.

Officials said the Imam of the Bilali Mosque in Banbhulpura was detained at around 2:30 AM with assistance from the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU). The Delhi Police team took him into custody immediately after completing legal formalities in Haldwani.

The raid was carried out under heavy security provided by the Nainital Police, as Banbhulpura is considered a communally sensitive area.

It may be recalled that Banbhulpura witnessed communal tension in February 2024 when the Haldwani Municipal Corporation attempted to demolish an illegal mosque and madrasa following a court order. Violence erupted after a mob attacked the municipal team, resulting in 5–6 deaths and over 100 injuries before police restored order.

Following the raid, heavy security deployment was observed in Banbhulpura under the supervision of Haldwani SP City Manoj Kumar Katyal and CO Lalkuan Deepshikha Agarwal.

Additional forces from Lalkuan, Kaladhungi, Mukhani, and Kathgodam police stations were mobilised to ensure peace. Although the sudden deployment surprised local residents, the situation remained calm. The Bilali Mosque and the Imam’s residence were kept under tight security at the time of filing this report.

While declining to share further details of the Delhi Police operation, Katyal said, “They carried out an operation, and security in the area was heightened as a precautionary measure.”