Srinagar, March 23: Teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday in connection with the investigation into the 2025 Red Fort explosion case.

Officials said NIA teams this morning raided the residence of a businessman in the Guloora area of Handwara in connection with the blast case. The NIA teams, assisted by J&K Police and the CRPF, searched the premises and checked documents and devices.

A statement from the agency said that searches are being conducted in nine places in various locations of the union territory.

An official added that the “NIA conducted raids at multiple locations across Kashmir as part of its ongoing investigation into the November 10 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort”.

The raids were carried out at six locations across Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Kulgam districts on premises linked to individuals arrested in connection with the “terror module” behind the blast, which killed 11 people and wounded 32 others.

Sources said the NIA conducted a search at the residence of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, a resident of Rafiabad in Baramulla district, who was arrested in connection with the case.

Another search was carried out in the Langate area of Kupwara district. The NIA has apprehended 11 people, including several doctors, so far during the investigation into the bomb blast case.

The prime accused, Dr Umer Un Nabi, was also killed in the deadly explosion.

Officials said teams of NIA, assisted by police and the CRPF, searched the premises and checked documents and devices.

It must be mentioned that on November 10, 2025, a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) detonated at the Red Fort in Delhi.

The attack was orchestrated by a “white-collar” cell of professionals, including doctors from Al-Falah University, linked to transnational groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind.

This event signalled a potential operational shift from border-centric militancy to urban-embedded operations, where actors exploit metropolitan anonymity and logistical networks within the country’s interior.

Mumbai: Consulate General of Iran, Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, on Friday said that Tehran is deeply concerned about India’s LPG crisis. Calling India a “friend and partner,” he added that despite risks in a conflict-like situation, Tehran ensured safe passage for gas carriers to India.

While speaking to media, he said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has, from the very beginning, shown that it is a friend and partner of India. Personally, as the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mumbai, when I saw people facing a shortage of gas, I felt deeply concerned.”

“As you know, the situation is effectively a war zone, and gas carriers face their own risks; even the smallest impact can lead to serious consequences. However, by the grace of God, Iran was able to provide a safe passage so that these vessels could cross securely. This demonstrates our friendship with India,” he added as quoted by media.

Meanwhile, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, carrying approximately 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived in Gujarat. Before that, LPG tanker Shivalik, which crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz, arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port. It roughly carried 40,000 metric tonnes of cooking gas from Qatar. These critical deliveries come at a time when the West Asia conflict caused LPG shortages across India.

India, the world’s third-largest crude importer, sources 88 per cent of its oil needs from abroad. It consumes 5.8 million barrels per day, of which 2.5-2.7 million barrels come from West Asian countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE via the Strait of Hormuz. The choke point also carries 55 per cent of India’s cooking gas (LPG) and 30 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG), used for power, fertilisers, CNG, and household cooking.

India’s cooking gas distribution network has long been plagued by a quiet crisis – subsidised LPG cylinders meant for households routinely ended up in the black market, diverted by unscrupulous delivery personnel and agents. With the LPG crisis now deepening due to the US-Iran war, the government’s answer to this is deceptively simple – an OTP.

The Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) is a one-time-use code used to verify the legitimacy of home LPG cylinder delivery, ensuring the cylinder reaches the rightful customer. When a booking is made, the customer receives the code on their registered mobile number, which must be shown to the delivery person before the cylinder changes hands.

Ever since the crisis began, the government has significantly scaled up this system, with DAC coverage now reaching nearly 72 percent of deliveries, up from 53 percent earlier. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil companies to ensure the DAC system is used in at least 80 percent of LPG deliveries, making OTP verification mandatory for the majority of cylinders.

Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have introduced the DAC system – sent via SMS and shared with delivery personnel – to ensure verified delivery, with IVRS/SMS refill booking also implemented nationwide, providing alerts at key stages including booking, cash memo generation, and delivery.

If distributors fail to meet the DAC requirement, the system flags cylinders as still in the agency’s inventory even though they have been delivered -creating a digital paper trail that exposes irregularities and improves transparency across the supply chain.

Consumers can ensure they receive DAC codes by taking these steps:

– Link your mobile number to your LPG consumer ID via your distributor or the Indane/HP/Bharat Gas app.

– Book via IVRS by calling your provider’s helpline – the DAC is sent automatically via SMS upon booking.

– Update details online at iocl.com or your respective oil company’s portal.

– Visit your distributor with photo ID and consumer ID if SMS is not being received.

– If the OTP does not arrive, customers can show their Aadhaar card as an alternate identity verification to receive the cylinder.

With the government pushing toward an 80 percent DAC compliance target, the system represents a low-cost, high-impact fix to a problem that has cost the exchequer significantly. For millions of households, it also means the subsidised cylinder they paid for will actually reach their doorstep.