Red Fort Blast Case: NIA Nabs Seventh Suspect for Harbouring Suicide Bomber

In a significant breakthrough that truly underscores the relentless nature of counter-terrorism efforts, the National Investigation Agency, or NIA as we know them, has just brought in a seventh individual linked to the horrific 2022 Red Fort blast case. This latest arrest, a gentleman named Mohammad Akbar Bhat from Jammu and Kashmir, adds another crucial piece to what has been a complex and, frankly, high-stakes investigation.

Sources close to the probe indicate that Bhat's alleged role was rather serious: he's accused of harbouring the main conspirator and suicide bomber, Mohammad Umar Nabi, at his residence in Srinagar. And this wasn't just a fleeting encounter; it seems Nabi stayed with Bhat for several days right after the explosion. Imagine the tension, the sheer audacity of providing shelter to someone directly involved in such an act against our nation.

You might recall the incident itself occurred on October 25, 2022. The location? None other than the bustling parking lot of the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. It was an act designed, it's understood, to cause panic and disruption. The NIA has been meticulously piecing together the threads of this conspiracy ever since, leaving no stone unturned, and this seventh arrest speaks volumes about their dedication.

Before Bhat, six other individuals, including Umar Nabi himself, had already been taken into custody. It's believed that Nabi wasn't acting alone; he was allegedly operating under instructions from handlers based across the border, specifically from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit. Their nefarious goal? To execute a terror attack, seemingly aimed at shaking the very foundations of peace and security in our capital.

The arrest of Mohammad Akbar Bhat is particularly important because it highlights the often-hidden network of support that terrorists rely upon. Providing shelter and logistic assistance, especially to a suicide bomber post-attack, is a grave offence and plays a vital role in aiding such sinister plots. This development certainly brings the NIA closer to fully unraveling the entire conspiracy and, hopefully, bringing all those involved to justice.