Blast at police station in Jammu Kashmir kills 9, injures 27

The blast occurred when the personnel were handling the explosive material brought from Haryana's Faridabad,

Srinagar: An accidental explosion ripped through Nowgam police station in Srinagar, killing nine people and injuring 27 while authorities were extracting samples from a large cache of explosives confiscated in the ‘white-collar’ terror module case, officials said on Saturday.

Those killed in the incident that took place on Friday night were three people from Forensic Science Laboratory, two from Revenue department including a Naib Tehsildar, two police photographers, one member of State Investigation Agency and a tailor.

The blast occurred when the personnel were handling the explosive material brought from Haryana‘s Faridabad, the officials said, adding that the blast took place due to the unstable nature of the chemicals.

The material was part of the 360 kg of explosives recovered from the rented residence of arrested accused Dr Muzammil Ganaie, they said.

The bodies have been taken to the Police Control Room here.

At least 24 police personnel and three civilians have been admitted to various hospitals in the city, the officials said.

The massive blast smashed the quiet of the night and damaged the police station building. Small successive explosions prevented immediate rescue operations by the bomb disposal squad.

While some of the explosives recovered have been kept at forensic lab of police, the major part of the 360 kg of explosives was stored at the police station, where the primary case for the terror module was registered.

The entire conspiracy unravelled after the posters threatening police and security forces appeared on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, in mid-October.

Treating the incident as a serious threat, Srinagar police registered a case on October 19 and formed a dedicated team.

Meticulous, frame-by-frame analysis of CCTV footage led investigators to identify and arrest the first three suspects — Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid. These three had cases of stone pelting registered against them and were seen pasting the posters.

Their interrogation led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam (preacher) from Shopian who supplied the posters and is believed to have radicalised the doctors using his easy access to the medical community.

The trail ultimately led Srinagar police to Al Falah University in Faridabad, where they arrested Dr Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed. It was here that the massive cache of chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur, was seized.

Investigators believe the entire module was run by a core trio of doctors — Ganaie, Umar Nabi (the driver of the explosives-laden car that exploded near the Red Fort on November 10) and Muzzaffar Rather (absconding).

The role of the eighth arrested person, Dr Adeel Rather, the brother of the absconding Dr Muzzaffar Rather from whom an AK-56 rifle was seized, is still under investigation.

Blast accidental, no sabotage: DGP

Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat on Saturday said the massive explosion at Nowgam police station that left nine dead and 32 injured was “accidental” and ruled out sabotage as the cause of the incident.

Prabhat, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, said the explosives recovered during investigation in the “white collar terror module” case were transported from Haryana’s Faridabad to Nowgam police station and kept securely in an open area in its premises.

“As part of the prescribed procedure, the samples of the recovery had to be forwarded for further forensic and chemical examination. On account of the voluminous nature of the recovery, the FSL (forensic science laboratory) team has been carrying out this process for the last two days,” Prabhat told reporters here.

The DGP said that due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the recovery, the FSL team was conducting the sampling process and its handling with utmost caution.

“Unfortunately during this course, around 11.20 pm last night, an accidental explosion took place. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” he added.

The top cop said nine people lost their lives in the explosion.

“One personnel of SIA (State Investigation Agency), three personnel of the FSL team, two crime photographers, two revenue officials who were part of the magistrate’s team, and one tailor who was associated with the team, were among those killed,” the DGP said.

He said 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians from the adjacent were sustained injuries in the incident.

“The injured were immediately evacuated to the nearest hospital, where they are being treated. The police station building has been severely damaged, and even the adjacent buildings have been affected,” he said.

The extent of the damage due to the explosion is being ascertained, and the cause for “this unfortunate incident” is being inquired into, Prabhat added.

The DGP said the police stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief.

Lieutenant Governor orders probe

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday ordered a probe into the accidental blast in Nowgam police station, which left nine people dead and 32 others injured.

“I have ordered a probe to ascertain the cause of the accidental explosion,” Sinha said in an X post.

The L-G expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the incident.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to extremely tragic accidental blast at Nowgam police station in Srinagar. My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.

Sinha said the government stands in solidarity with the families, friends and loved ones of the departed.

All possible assistance is being provided to those affected, he added.