New Delhi, Nov 17: Amir Rashid Ali, a key accused in the Red Fort area car bomb blast case that left 13 people dead, was on Monday remanded in 10 days’ NIA custody as the agency seeks to unravel the conspiracy behind the inter-state “white collar” terror module.

Ali, a resident of Pampore in South Kashmir, was brought to the court of Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna at the Patiala House courts complex amid tight security.

Media persons were barred from entering the court premises, which virtually turned the proceedings ‘in-camera’.

Later, sources in the courtroom said the judge allowed the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) plea seeking custodial interrogation of the accused for 10 days.

A heavy deployment of Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was seen outside the court premises, besides keeping personnel equipped with anti-riot gear on standby to maintain order.

Ali was likely the last person to have been in contact with Dr Umar Nabi, who was driving the explosive-laden car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing 13 people.

The remand comes a day after the NIA announced Ali’s arrest for allegedly conspiring with “suicide bomber” Nabi to execute the terror attack.

The NIA investigation showed that the vehicle used in the blast was registered in Ali’s name, who had travelled to Delhi specifically to facilitate the purchase of the car. The vehicle was subsequently used as a “Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED)” to carry out the attack.

Nabi had known links with a “white-collar” terror module that was recently busted following the recovery of explosives, primarily from Faridabad in Haryana on November 10.

As reported by PTI earlier, Nabi, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, emerged as the most radicalised and key operative in the network spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Officials believe he was planning a powerful VBIED blast timed around the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6.

The plot, however, fell apart when a meticulous investigation by Srinagar police resulted in the arrest of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie from Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad and the seizure of a huge cache of explosives. The breakthrough is believed to have triggered panic in Umar, ultimately ending in the blast outside the Red Fort that left 13 people dead.

The intricate interstate terror network was exposed after a small but significant incident of JeM posters appearing on the walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar, on October 19.

Srinagar police registered a case and reviewed CCTV camera footage, leading to the arrest of three locals — Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid, all with prior stone-pelting cases against them.

Their interrogation led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic-turned-Imam from Shopian, who allegedly supplied the posters and used his access to radicalise the doctors.

So far, eight people have been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with this case.

The NIA will now interrogate Ali to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and his role in the fatal terror plot.

Faridabad (Haryana), Nov 17: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council here and discussed issues concerning the states and Union territories of the region.

The Northern Zonal Council comprises the states and Union territories of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Chandigarh.

Chief Ministers Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana), Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan), Rekha Gupta (Delhi), Omar Abdullah (J&K), Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria, Lieutenant Governors Manoj Sinha (J&K) and V K Saxena (Delhi) attended the meeting, officials said.

Issues like education, health, water, electricity, speedy investigation of cases of sexual offences against women and children, among others were discussed at the meeting, they said.

At the outset, the meeting observed a minute of silence to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the November 10 blast near the Red Fort.

Senior officials from the central and state governments and Union territories also attended the meeting.

The zonal councils provide an excellent forum for resolving and progressing issues and disputes between the Centre and the member states and Union territories, among the member states and Union territories, and within the zone, an official said.

In the meeting of the zonal council, broad issues of national importance, including the speedy investigation of cases of sexual offences against women and children and the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) for their swift disposal are discussed.

Various regional-level common interest issues, such as strengthening nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and the cooperative system are also be discussed in the meeting.

The Northern Zonal Council is among the five zonal councils established under sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

The Union home minister is the chairperson of the Northern Zonal Council. The chief minister of one member state (rotating every year) acts as the vice-chairperson.

From each member state, the governor nominates two ministers as members of the council.

Each Zonal Council has also formed a permanent committee at the level of chief secretaries.

Issues proposed by the states are initially presented to the permanent committee of the Zonal Council concerned for discussion. After consideration by the permanent committee, the remaining issues are then presented to the Zonal Council meeting for further deliberation.

The role of the zonal councils is advisory. However, over the past few years, these councils have proven to be an important factor in promoting healthy bonds of mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields.

With the cooperation of all state governments, central ministries and departments, a total of 63 meetings of the various zonal councils and their permanent committees have been held in the last 11 years, the official said.

Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], Nov 17: The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has set up a 24×7 control room following a tragic bus accident late last night involving Umrah pilgrims near Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The Consulate General of India, Jeddah, has provided multiple contact numbers for assistance, including 8002440003 (toll-free), 00966122614093, 00966126614276, and 00966556122301 (WhatsApp), urging family members to reach out for immediate support.

In its statement, the Indian Consulate expressed its “deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

“Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are also in touch with the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry, and other local authorities. They are also in touch with the concerned Umrah operators,” the statement added.

A team of Consulate staff and Indian community volunteers is on the ground at various hospitals and sites.

The press release added that both the Embassy and the Consulate are “extending fullest support” and “are also in touch with the concerned officials of the State of Telangana to coordinate with the concerned families.”

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that he was “deeply shocked” by the bus accident near Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

“Deeply shocked at the accident involving Indian nationals in Medinah, Saudi Arabia. Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are giving fullest support to Indian nationals and families affected by this accident. Sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he wrote.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed shock after preliminary reports indicated that several victims were from Hyderabad.

According to an official statement, the Chief Minister has contacted officials in New Delhi and instructed them to coordinate closely with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh for updated information.

Telangana Chief Secretary, A. Santhi Kumari, alerted Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal in New Delhi, directing him to immediately gather details on how many passengers from Telangana were on the bus and ensure timely support. A control room has also been activated at the state Secretariat to monitor the situation.

Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP and AIMIM chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, also expressed grief after the accident in Saudi Arabia and urged the Centre to bring back the bodies.

Owaisi told ANI that he had spoken to Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, and also contacted two Hyderabad-based travel agencies, sharing the passengers’ details with the Riyadh Embassy and the Foreign Secretary.

He said that there were 42 people on the bus that was involved in the accident.

Local reports said the bus was travelling from Mecca to Madinah when the accident occurred. Details on casualties and survivors are awaited.

Jammu, Nov 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic accident involving a bus carrying Indian Umrah pilgrims in Medina, Saudi Arabia, early this morning.

He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the mishap.

According to initial reports, the accident occurred when a bus carrying 46 pilgrims collided with a tanker while travelling from Mecca to Medina. The reports indicate that the collision resulted in the death of 45 Indian pilgrims.

Srinagar, Nov 17: Locals in Assam’s Tinsukia district detained 44 individuals from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning after finding them moving around the Tinsukia Railway Station. The group was later handed over to the Railway Police Force for verification.

According to locals, the men were brought by a contractor for work in Arunachal Pradesh. “The group appeared suspicious to them in the backdrop of the recent blast in Delhi. We handed them over to Railway Police for verification,” the locals were quoted by a section of media as having said.

The detained group, however, said they were wage labourers who had come for transmission line work. They stated that most of them belonged to Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir and had arrived by train earlier in the day.

Officials said verification of the individuals was still underway.

Meanwhile, Faridabad Police continued questioning Kashmiri students and tenants living on rent in the city as part of the investigation into the alleged white collar module linked to the recent blast near the Red Fort. Police said over 2,000 tenants have been questioned so far, with further verification being conducted to trace any possible connections. [KNT]