Nine Killed in Nowgam Police Station Explosion
An accidental explosion occurred at the Nowgam police station, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, late on Friday night. The tragic incident claimed the lives of at least nine individuals, while several others were injured.
Officials, speaking to the PTI news agency, stated that most of the casualties were police personnel and forensic officials who were present during the incident.
At least 24 police officers and three civilians were admitted to various hospitals across Srinagar, authorities said. The bodies of the deceased were later moved to the Police Control Room in Srinagar. Seven bodies were recovered immediately from the blast site, and the remains of two others were also found afterward. Officials told HT that the identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed.
According to officials, the explosion occurred while police personnel were handling explosives that had been seized from Faridabad in Haryana. PTI reported that the authorities were attempting to extract samples from a large stash of explosives, which had been confiscated after the bust of a “white-collar” terror module.
The seized materials, totaling 360 kilograms, were recovered from the rented house of Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, one of the arrested individuals linked to the terror module. While some explosives were stored at the Forensic Lab of the police, the majority remained at the Nowgam police station. A preliminary case connected to the terror module had also been registered there.
The powerful blast caused significant damage to the police station building, leading to the hospitalization of several security personnel. Rescue operations by the bomb disposal squad were initially delayed due to smaller successive explosions, PTI reported.
The explosion comes weeks after threatening posters targeting police officials appeared on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, in mid-October. The Srinagar Police registered a case regarding the posters, treating the matter seriously, and formed a dedicated investigation team.
Three suspects were identified: Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil (now arrested), Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid. CCTV footage helped officials track their involvement in pasting the threatening posters. These suspects also had prior cases of stone-pelting filed against them.
Investigations led to the arrest of a former paramedic turned Imam from Shopian, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, who had supplied the posters to the accused. He was also accused of radicalizing doctors through his access to the medical community, PTI reported.
The probe eventually led to Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where two doctors Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Shaheen Sayeed were arrested. Police recovered a large quantity of chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, from their possession.
The terror module in Faridabad has also been linked to the Red Fort blast in Delhi, which killed 11 people. The car involved in the Delhi explosion was driven by Dr. Umar un-Nabi, who was associated with Al-Falah University.
Following the Delhi blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) intensified the investigation. At least four doctors linked to the terror module and working at Al-Falah University were identified. Three of the doctors detained on Friday Dr. Mushtakeem, Dr. Mohammad, and Dr. Rehaan Hayat were reportedly in regular contact with Umar un-Nabi.
Delhi Police officials have stated that scrutiny of Al-Falah University has increased significantly, as three doctors Umar, Muzammil, and Dr. Shaheen Shahid have already been arrested or named in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Also Read: Delhi Red Fort Blast: Security Heightened Across NCR After Deadly Explosion | Full Details Inside
