A chilling video has surfaced of Dr. Umar Mohammad—better known as Umar un-Nabi—the man accused of driving the car that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort last November. The footage, in which he took a video of himself, gives a rare and worrying expression at how he perceives his actions.
In the uploaded video, Dr. Umar sits alone in a room, speaking in calm, fluent English. He does not show any clue of stresses or regret. Instead, he tries to turn the idea of a suicide bombing on its head, calling it a misunderstood “martyrdom operation.” He says, “One of the very misunderstood concepts is what has been labelled as suicide bombing. It is a martyrdom operation … known in Islam.” He describes this operation as someone knowingly choosing death at a set time and place “he presumes that he is going to die … at a particular place, at a particular time.” Then he leans into a kind of fatalism, saying, “Don’t fear death.” It’s a clear attempt to strip the act of any sense of desperation and, instead, dress it up as something noble.
Investigators are now poring over this video, seeing it as more than just a confession. They think Dr. Umar meant it as a message—a way to justify his actions and maybe nudge others down the same path. Security sources say they found the recording during their probe, most likely on one of his devices. It’s given them new insight into how he saw his “mission,” and how he might’ve tried to sway others.
There’s a bigger story here, too. Dr. Umar isn’t just any suspect. He’s a doctor, part of what police are calling a “white-collar” terror module that may include other professionals. Investigators have already linked him to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group. Some experts believe he made the video not just for himself, but to convince others in his circle—especially those who hesitated at the idea of a suicide attack—that what they were being asked to do wasn’t suicide, but martyrdom.
This case is yet another reminder that extremist ideas don’t just flourish in the shadows or among the uneducated. Here’s a trained doctor, a person people would generally trust, now at the middle of a terror conspiracy. It’s disconcerting, and it push us to consider who is susceptible to radicalization. Dr. Umar’s use of religious verbal to validate violence isn’t new, but the calm, almost clinical way he does, it is conspicuous. This makes it much more difficult for security team to detect and prevent these terrorizations, especially when they present themselves in a calm and convincing way.
Also Read: Red Fort Blast: Investigators Trace Terror Module as Probe Expands Across NCR
The video’s gone viral, sparking outrage and debate. For many, it only deepens the horror of the Red Fort blast. For others, it raises tough questions about what drives someone like Dr. Umar, and how far radicalization can go—even among society’s so-called best and brightest.
Authorities are not going to take this lightly. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi Police Crime Branch have both zeroed in on the video, giving it as an important piece of evidence. They’re also digging into how Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where some module members worked or studied, might have played a role in spreading these ideas. Security analysts warn that this kind of message—positioning violent death as “martyrdom”—could be a recruiting tool, especially for educated recruits who might otherwise have doubts.
There are real risks here. When viciousness is dressed up as ideal heroism, it can traumatized people to the horror, or even motivate them to follow them. Legally, the video could change how prosecutors build their case, showing clear planning and linking Dr. Umar to a broader network. And socially, videos like this stir up fear, anger, and the potential for deeper divisions.
In the end, Dr. Umar’s video isn’t just extra piece of evidence. It’s a troubling notice of how easily a fundamental ideas can spread, even from someone sitting in a doctor’s place.