The controversial Al-Falah University in Faridabad, already under the scanner following revelations of its links with Umar Mohammad, the suicide bomber behind the November 10 Delhi blast, has now been connected to yet another high-profile terror suspect: Mirza Shadab Baig, a key operative of the banned Indian Mujahideen (IM).
NDTV reports that Baig, a resident of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, completed his B.Tech in Electronics and Instrumentation at Al-Falah University in 2007. This timeline coincides with his reported involvement in multiple terror attacks, including the 2007 Gorakhpur explosions and the 2008 serial blasts in Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
Baig’s educational background in instrumentation engineering, a field involving control systems and automation technologies, allegedly gave him the technical expertise to construct sophisticated bombs. According to investigators, he not only manufactured explosives but also trained other IM operatives and coordinated logistics for multiple attacks.
Mirza Shadab Baig: The Engineer-Turned-Bomb Maker
A resident of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Baig completed his B.Tech in Electronics and Instrumentation from Al Falah University in 2007. According to intelligence sources, he was likely still a student when he became involved in planning the Gorakhpur blasts.
His technical education proved deadly. “Having studied instrumentation engineering that deals with designing and implementing control systems and automation technologies, Baig was familiar with all the technical aspects of making a bomb,” sources revealed.
His role in the major attacks was pivotal:
Jaipur Blasts (2008): Baig travelled to Udupi in Karnataka to collect explosives, supplying a large number of detonators and bearings to IM members Riyaz Bhatkal and Yasin Bhatkal for the attacks that killed over 60 people.
Ahmedabad Blasts (2008): He conducted a detailed recce of the Gujarat capital 15 days before the explosions that killed more than 50. He was part of the core teams, arranged logistics, prepared the bombs, and trained other IM members.
Baig, who carries a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head, remains on the run and was last traced to Afghanistan in 2019.
A University Under Multiple Scanners
The repeated links to terrorism have placed Al Falah University under an unforgiving spotlight. The Crime Branch has already lodged two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the varsity under charges of cheating and forgery. This action followed reports of “major irregularities” from statutory bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
The institution’s founder is also under arrest in a separate money laundering case.
Background: India’s Deadliest Blasts
- Gorakhpur (2007): Three synchronized bombs exploded in the city’s commercial center, injuring six people and triggering a massive security scare.
- Jaipur (May 2008): Nine coordinated blasts tore through the city, killing over 60 people in one of Rajasthan’s worst terror incidents.
- Ahmedabad (July 2008): Around 20 bombs exploded across the city within 70 minutes, leaving over 50 dead and hundreds injured.
Authorities previously linked the Indian Mujahideen, an offshoot of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), to all three attacks.
Delhi Blast and White Collar Terror Module
The explosive-laden Hyundai i20 driven by Umar Mohammad detonated in a parking lot near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, killing 13 and injuring 20 people. The impact damaged several vehicles and triggered panic in the area.
The bombing came just hours after law enforcement busted a multi-state “white collar” terror module tied to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The module reportedly operated across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. In the crackdown, eight individuals including three doctors were arrested, and a massive cache of 2,900 kg of explosives was recovered.
Authorities believe Al-Falah University may have functioned as a cover institution for extremists to secure academic credentials while engaging in terror-related activities.
(Source: NDTV)
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
