Faridabad module plotted attacks on UP Assembly, temples using 'Mother of Satan'
Synopsis
A group of medical professionals — not hardened operatives — reportedly produced the 'Mother of Satan' explosive, stockpiled 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser, and conducted reconnaissance of the UP Assembly and Raj Bhawan. The Faridabad module's NIA charge sheet exposes a level of scientific sophistication in domestic terror planning that security agencies say they have rarely encountered.
Key Takeaways
The NIA's 7,500-page charge sheet details how the Faridabad module , led by Umar Un Nabi , set up an operational hub in Lucknow for bomb-making procurement.
Key targets included the UP State Assembly , Secretariat , Raj Bhawan , crowded locations, and Hindu temples ; members conducted physical reconnaissance of these sites.
The module, largely comprising medical professionals , produced TATP ('Mother of Satan') — a non-nitrate explosive that evades standard nitrate scanners.
The group procured 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser and used YouTube to learn military-grade explosive refinement.
The arsenal included pipe bombs , rocket launch heads, Erythritol PETN , and plans to convert domestic gas cylinders into heavy bombs.
The NIA says the scale of preparation suggests the module intended to strike far beyond Delhi and Uttar Pradesh .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed in its 7,500-page charge sheet that the Faridabad module, led by Umar Un Nabi and comprising largely medical professionals, had established an operational hub in Lucknow to procure bomb-making chemicals and plan a coordinated series of attacks across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The targets, according to the charge sheet, included crowded public spaces and Hindu temples, with the group conducting physical reconnaissance of high-value government sites.
Lucknow Hub and Target Selection
According to the NIA charge sheet, module members had identified local contacts in Lucknow to assist in sourcing chemicals and related materials. The group's key targets in Uttar Pradesh included the UP State Assembly, the Secretariat, and Raj Bhawan. Investigators found that members had physically surveyed these locations in advance.
The operational plan, as documented by the NIA, envisaged an initial wave of blasts in Delhi and surrounding areas, followed by a concentrated assault on targets in Uttar Pradesh. According to the agency, 'the group established a functional hub in Uttar Pradesh, not just to source bomb-making material, but also to understand logistics and then carry out the attacks.'
Medical Professionals Behind the Bomb-Making
What investigators found particularly alarming was the module's composition. The group, which primarily comprised medical professionals, leveraged their scientific training to study chemical compositions, high-intensity detonations, and rocket propulsion. Members reportedly used YouTube extensively to learn how to refine agricultural chemicals into military-grade explosive compounds.
The module had managed to procure 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser for this purpose, the NIA found. Their scientific backgrounds also enabled them to understand and manage the risks associated with the volatile materials they were handling.
'Mother of Satan': The Choice of TATP
Among the most concerning findings in the charge sheet is the group's successful production of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) — commonly referred to as the 'Mother of Satan' in terror contexts. According to an NIA official, the choice of TATP was deliberate: as a non-nitrate explosive, it is extremely difficult to detect using the standard nitrate scanners deployed at most security checkpoints, giving it a significant tactical advantage.
TATP is highly unstable and sensitive to heat and friction. Despite being aware of these risks, module members made repeated visits to a safe house where the stockpile was stored. They reportedly manufactured specialised cooling pitchers and introduced stabilising substances to manage the chemical integrity of the compound — a level of technical sophistication that has alarmed security agencies.
Arsenal: Pipe Bombs, Rocket Heads, and Gas Cylinder Bombs
The NIA charge sheet documents a wide-ranging arsenal that the group had assembled or was in the process of manufacturing. This included launch heads designed to be fired upward during coordinated rocket strikes, attempts to manufacture Erythritol PETN, and the procurement of electrolysis equipment and industrial nodes to produce pipe bombs.
The group had also planned to repurpose domestic gas cylinders as improvised heavy bombs by drilling holes and filling them with explosive slurry. An NIA official noted that the scale of preparation indicates the module had intended to strike well beyond Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Scope of the Threat
The NIA's findings point to a methodically planned, multi-city terror campaign with a level of technical preparation rarely seen in domestic terror cases. The combination of scientific expertise, large-scale chemical procurement, and physical reconnaissance of government buildings suggests the module was in an advanced stage of planning before it was dismantled. The investigation is ongoing, and the charge sheet is expected to be taken up in court in the coming weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Faridabad module NIA case about?
The Faridabad module is a terror cell led by Umar Un Nabi, comprising largely medical professionals, that the NIA alleges planned coordinated bomb attacks across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The NIA has filed a 7,500-page charge sheet detailing the group's chemical procurement, target reconnaissance, and explosive manufacturing activities.
What is TATP or 'Mother of Satan' explosive?
Triacetone triperoxide (TATP), nicknamed the 'Mother of Satan,' is a highly unstable, non-nitrate explosive that is extremely difficult to detect with standard nitrate scanners used at security checkpoints. The NIA found that the Faridabad module successfully produced TATP and took elaborate steps to manage its volatility, including manufacturing specialised cooling pitchers.
Which targets had the Faridabad module identified in Uttar Pradesh?
According to the NIA charge sheet, the module had identified the UP State Assembly, the Secretariat, and Raj Bhawan as key targets in Lucknow. Members had conducted physical reconnaissance of these sites as part of their operational planning.
How did medical professionals in the module acquire bomb-making knowledge?
The NIA found that module members used their scientific and medical training to understand chemical compositions and detonation processes. They also reportedly used YouTube extensively to learn how to refine agricultural chemicals into military-grade explosive compounds, and procured 2.5 tonnes of fertiliser for this purpose.
What types of weapons did the Faridabad module plan to use?
The NIA documented a wide arsenal including TATP-based devices, pipe bombs, rocket launch heads, attempts to manufacture Erythritol PETN, and plans to convert domestic gas cylinders into improvised heavy bombs by drilling holes and filling them with explosive slurry.
