Red Fort blast, ricin plot and drone bombs: India faces a new era of tech-driven terrorism
On 10 th November 2025, India had a providential escape from a disastrous terror attack only due to the intrepidity and perspicacity IPS officer and SSP Srinagar G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, who initiated a probe to find the man who was pasting posters carrying threats to the Police in Srinagar.
The white collar terror module involved in the Delhi suicide car bomb attack planned to modify drones to weaponize them, and make rockets for use before the November 10 terror strike near the Red Fort, investigators have revealed. An attempt of this sort would have parallels with the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 when it used drones as the main weapon of disruption and destruction. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) discovered this pernicious threat after it arrested a second terror suspect who worked with the suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi.
Another Police operation in Gujarat, by the ATS resulted in the arrest of three men, including a doctor, who were plotting a diabolical scheme to produce Ricin – a deadly chemical compound that, if ingested, could lead to multiple organ failure and death. The terror gang wanted to execute a massive Ricin mass killing on innocent civilians. This was another providential escape for India.
When discussion and debates are raging on the TV and in newspapers, about the heinous terror plans and the involvement of professional doctors and engineers, nobody talks about what triggered these secret terror plots in the first place?
On 11 December 2023, the Supreme Court of India in its verdict upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir as constitutional and ordered the Election Commission of India to
hold legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir before 30 September 2024.
Militancy affected Kashmir was enjoying relative calm and peace, when it was under President’s rule until October 13, 2024, when it was withdrawn to allow the formation of a new government after the assembly elections. The state was first under Governor’s rule starting in June 2018, which was followed by President’s rule in December 2018, and the latter continued until October 2024.
The moot question is, was there any need to withdraw the President’s rule? When the territorial integrity of India is threatened by foreign supported and funded terrorists, should
the nation be subservient to the Constitution? There is nothing sacrosanct about the Constitution, it is not of divine origin like Bhagawad Gita, Bible or Koran, it is only a man-made document incorporating features from several countries, primarily drawing from the Government of India Act 1935, and also borrowing liberally from the constitutions of the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Key borrowings include the parliamentary system from the UK, fundamental rights and judicial review from the US, directive principles of state policy from Ireland, a federation with a strong centre from Canada, and the concurrent list and joint sittings from Australia. Other borrowings were from France, USSR (Russia), Germany, South Africa, and Japan. In modern parlance it would be called as a ‘cut and paste’ job, why then such unnecessary reverence for a book that should only be adhered to the reasonable extent possible?
Predictably, after October 24 2024, there has been an upsurge in violence by fanatic terror gangs. Innumerable Army and Police personnel have been killed, migrant labourers massacred, finally culminating in the deadly Pahalgam attack in which 26 Hindu tourists were segregated and killed on 22 April 2025. The attackers were armed with M4 carbines and AK-47’s, and killed the Hindu victims in a barbaric manner in cold blood. This is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. This writer had already predicted the return of violence in an earlier article (KASHMIR
PREPARES FOR ANOTHER TERROR INNINGS – August 25 2024,
www.pgurus.com).
A week after the blast near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort claimed 13 lives, a self-recorded and undated video of the bomber, Dr Umar Mohammad alias Umar-un-Nabi, has emerged that shows him talking about suicide bombing as “martyrdom“. The video also makes it clear that the Delhi car blast had been carefully planned and negates the speculation that it may have been triggered mistakenly while transporting the explosives.
Investigators have found that Nabi was a highly radicalised person who wanted to promote Islamic dominance over other faiths at any cost. The investigation has revealed a white collar terror ecosystem, involving radicalized doctors and engineers and students in
contact with foreign handlers, operating from Pakistan, Turkey, Syria and other countries. The group has been using encrypted channels for indoctrination, coordination, fund movement and logistics. Funds were raised through professional and academic
networks, under the guise of social/charitable causes.
Another terrorist Jasir Bilal Wani was apprehended for providing technical support for carrying out terror attacks by modifying drones and attempting to make rockets ahead of the deadly car bomb blast near Red Fort.
Faridabad’s Al Falah University, where all the white collar terror suspects worked, is under investigation on many fronts from financial to administrative. The University’s role is currently under investigation and its Chairman cum Chancellor Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui had “incentives” to flee India as his close family members are settled in the Gulf and he siphoned off at least Rs 415 crore funds generated fraudulently from students. This has interesting parallels to another educational group functioning at Kasaragod District in Kerala, which was also raided by ED, in August 2025, and detected money laundering
to the tune of over 250 crores. In this case also all the Trust members were holed up in Sharjah, and had suspected strong links with the Jamaat e Islami.
It is estimated that about 3,500 Kashmiri Muslim students are currently pursuing MBBS in Bangladesh as of 2025. Another 700 Kashmiri Muslim students are currently pursuing MBBS in Pakistan, with an estimated 100 new enrolments every year. It is not understandable as to how they obtained permission to study in countries that are neck deep involved in supporting terrorism in India, especially Kashmir. The agencies have
absolutely no idea as to what these Kashmiris are being taught in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and which agency is recognizing these dubious degrees for medical practice in India. Government of India should immediately derecognize all degrees awarded by terror friendly countries, like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Turkey.
In another development, in November 2025, the Gujarat Anti- Terrorist Squad (ATS) uncovered a ricin terror plot and arrested three men, including a Hyderabad-based doctor. The accused were allegedly planning to use the lethal toxin for attacks across India.
All the above, demonstrates the complexity and nuance of the current threat from Islamist terrorism, highlighting current flaws in strategy and need for revising anti-terror laws. There is also the need for constant recalibration of counter-terrorism measures.
Recent analyses of terror plots point to significant upgrades in terrorist capabilities, primarily driven by technological advancements and shifting geopolitical landscapes. Terrorist groups have evolved beyond traditional tactics to exploit modern techniques like cyber warfare, sophisticated propaganda, and innovative weaponry like drones. This technological terrorism upgrades create a more dangerous, and difficult-to-track threat environment.
The immediate challenges that need to be addressed are:
- Setting up increased number of Biosafety laboratories (BSL 3 Labs) across the country.
- Enhanced security at dual use bio research institutions, universities, laboratories and hospitals.
- Quarantine facilities at identified hospitals and international border points.
- Capacity building for health workers both in the public and private hospitals and all enforcement agencies. Capacity building is also needed for all judicial officers, including judges of High Courts and Supreme Court.
- Creating adequate first response and early detection equipment.
- Mapping of the different biological isolates to enhance control and management.
In addition to the above, time has come to maintain close watch on universities, and professional colleges, scrutiny of Trusts and the credentials of all Trustees. If majority of Trustees are operating from foreign countries, permission to float private/deemed universities, professional medical and engineering colleges should not be permitted. Prior written permission of both State and Central government needs to be obtained for appointments of Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor, Deans, and Principals, and tenure should be fixed. Strict religion neutrality should be enforced in all educational institutions, including prohibiting priests and other religious personalities from functioning as Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor, as also all teaching faculty.
The rationale for a forceful response to terrorism is based on several factors, like: persistent attacks, destabilizing effect, sophisticated and evolving threats, weaknesses in the security architecture, flaws in the judicial system, and regional instability. Former American President, George W. Bush wisely stated on September 17 2002 “Defending our Nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the Federal Government. Today, that task has changed dramatically. Enemies in the past needed great armies and great industrial capabilities to endanger America. Now, shadowy networks of individuals can bring great chaos and suffering to our shores for less than it costs to purchase a single tank. Terrorists are organized to penetrate open societies and to turn the power of modern technologies against us.
To defeat this threat, we must make use of every tool in our arsenal—military power, better homeland defences, law enforcement, intelligence, and vigorous efforts to cut off terrorist financing. The war against terrorists of global reach is a global enterprise of uncertain duration. America will help nations that need our assistance in combating terror. And America will hold to account nations that are compromised by terror, including those who harbour terrorists— because the allies of terror are the enemies of civilization. The United States and countries cooperating with us must not allow the terrorists to develop new home bases. Together, we will seek to deny them sanctuary at every turn”.
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