Once known for its expansive campus and modern facilities, Al-Falah Medical College on the outskirts of Delhi-NCR has found itself at the centre of a major counter-terror investigation. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday searched the Dhauj-based college, which has emerged as a key link in the Red Fort blast case that killed 10 people earlier this week.
Four doctors under investigation
Investigators have identified four doctors associated with the college — Dr Umar Un-Nabi, Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaei, Dr Shaheen Shahid, and Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan — for their alleged connections to the terror module behind the Red Fort explosion.
Officials said Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, who was dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration in 2022 under Article 311(2)(C) for “posing a threat to state security,” reportedly found employment at Al-Falah Medical College. His dismissal order accused him of using the Doctors Association of Kashmir to promote secessionist propaganda under Pakistani patronage.
A senior police officer said, “Nisar found refuge here under a new identity. This points to either gross negligence or complicity in recruitment.” The doctor has been missing since Monday’s blast.
University denies connection
In response, Al-Falah University Vice-Chancellor Bhupinder Kaur said the institution had “no connection with the doctors arrested apart from their professional roles.” She maintained that the university was cooperating with investigative agencies and denied any presence of explosives or chemicals on the campus.
However, investigators remain unconvinced. “When four doctors from one institution are linked to a terror network, it’s not coincidence — it’s a pattern,” a senior J&K Police officer said.
Probe widens to private universities
The incident has prompted calls for a nationwide audit of private universities employing personnel from conflict-prone regions without thorough background verification. “Educational institutions cannot become safe havens for those plotting against the nation,” an Inspector General–rank officer stated.
Over 70 resident doctors, faculty members, and students of the college have been questioned so far to trace how the network may have operated from within the campus. A fourth-year student said some of the accused doctors were often absent for long stretches without explanation, raising concerns about the college’s hiring practices.
NMC and NAAC initiate action
India’s medical regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), confirmed that it is monitoring the ongoing probe. “We will act as per statutory norms once official findings are received,” an NMC official said.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) also issued a show-cause notice to the university for falsely claiming accreditation. NAAC Director Professor Ganesan Kannabiran said the university was never accredited and that its affiliated colleges’ accreditations had expired years ago.
The notice warned that the university could face suspension from future accreditation processes and urged regulatory bodies — including UGC, NMC, NCTE, and AICTE — to consider withdrawing recognition of its programmes.
Al-Falah’s background and growing scrutiny
Established in 2014 by the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, the university offers courses across engineering, medical and health sciences, management, commerce, and education. While its medical college received approval to admit MBBS students in 2019, authorities say the institution has misrepresented its accreditation status online.
Investigators in Madhya Pradesh are now examining the background of Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, a resident of Indore who founded Al-Falah after moving to Faridabad 25 years ago.
Fear and confusion on campus
The ongoing raids and questioning have sparked panic among students. “We are scared and shocked. No one expected this at a medical college,” said a second-year MBBS student. The college administration has increased security on the premises as the probe continues.
With national agencies widening the investigation, Al-Falah Medical College remains under strict surveillance, emblematic of how institutions of learning can inadvertently become enablers in networks of radicalisation if oversight is weak.