Bilal Ahmad Wani, a neighbour of one of the men accused of being part of the terror modulelinked to the Red Fort blastset himself on fire on Sunday morning. He was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, where doctors say his condition is critical, according to a report by The Indian Express.
Who is Bilal Ahmad Wani?
Bilal Ahmad Wani is a 55-year-old man who sells dry fruits and lives close to the house of Dr. Adeel Ratherin Qazigund, in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Police accused Rather of being part of the terror module. He was arrested earlier this month from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked at a private hospital.
Wani’s family said his son, college student Jasir Bilal, was taken away by police four days ago. They also said his brother, teacher Nabeel Ahmad, was picked up two days ago. According to the family, Wani was called to the Qazigund police station on Saturday morning, the report mentioned.
ALSO READWho is Amir Rashid Ali? Close aide of Red Fort blast suicide bomber Umar Nabi arrested by NIA
Family says Wani was deeply disturbed
Wani’s family claimed that he returned home later that night from the Qazigund police station, but his son and brother were still in police custody.
“He (Wani) didn’t talk to anyone. He was very disturbed and could not even walk properly. In the morning (on Sunday), he got up and went outside. He took petrol from the car and sprinkled it on himself,” IE reported, quoting a family member of Wani.
The family said Wani then set himself on fire and is now critically injured.
Police deny detaining family members
However, Kulgam police said they did not detain Wani because there was no case against him.
“When his son was picked up, we called him and took details. We let him go at that moment only. None of his family members are being detained by Kulgam police,” Superintendent of Police Kulgam, Anayat Ali Chowdhary said, reported the news outlet.
A member of Wani’s family also spoke about Dr. Adeel Rather. “He is a neighbour and we know him. He was also a doctor and people here would go to him,” the family member told IE.
ALSO READRed Fort Blast: Hideout in Haryana, Rs 20 lakh payment – New details emerge about suicide bomber Umar
Mehbooba Mufti criticises police action
Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Muftireacted strongly to the incident, saying “this level of highhandedness only deepens wounds and breeds despair”.
She added that “random” detention of young men could push them towards “darker paths”.
Bilal Wani an anguished father from Wanpora Qazigund has set himself on fire after his son Jasir Bilal & brother Naveel Wani were detained by the police a few days ago. Petrified about their safety he pleaded with the authorities to just see them which was denied. He has been… pic.twitter.com/9ML6ejvUme
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 16, 2025
“Bilal Wani, an anguished father from Wanpoh Qazigund, has set himself on fire after his son Jasir Bilal and brother Nabeel Wani were detained by the police a few days ago. Petrified about their safety, he pleaded with the authorities to just see them, which was denied,” Mufti wrote in a post on X. |
