Nine people were killed and several others sustained grievous injuries after a powerful explosion ripped through the Nowgam police station on the outskirts of Srinagar late on Thursday night. According to officials, the blast occurred while police personnel and forensic experts were handling a large quantity of explosive material seized recently in connection with an ongoing investigation into a ‘white-collar’ terror module.
Blast occurred during examination of seized explosives
According to preliminary information shared by the police, the explosion took place as teams were extracting samples from a massive cache of explosives recovered earlier this month. The material, transported from Faridabad in Haryana, was linked to a terror investigation involving a group allegedly engaged in radicalisation, logistics support, and covert operations.
The cache reportedly formed part of the 360 kg of explosive chemicals seized from the rented accommodation of arrested doctor Muzammil Ganaie. Officials added that while some samples were stored at the forensic laboratory, the bulk of the seized material remained at the Nowgam police station, where the main case is registered.
Casualties and injuries mount; toll may rise
The explosion killed nine individuals on the spot, with their bodies later shifted to the Police Control Room in Srinagar for medico-legal procedures. At least 24 police personnel and three civilians have been admitted to different hospitals across the city.
Hospital authorities have confirmed that five of the injured are in critical condition, warning that the death toll may increase. The impact of the blast caused extensive damage to the police station building, shattering windows, blowing apart walls, and scattering debris across the yard.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as ambulances, fire tenders, and police vehicles arrived with sirens blaring. Rescue operations were briefly hindered by small, successive explosions that followed the main blast, prompting the bomb disposal squad to proceed with extreme caution.
Explosives linked to major terror module probe
The ongoing investigation into this terror module has spanned multiple states. The case began in mid-October when threatening posters targeting security forces appeared on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam. Acting on the incident, Srinagar Police registered a case on 19 October and formed a special team to investigate.
CCTV footage from the locality helped identify three men—Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid—who were seen pasting the posters. All three had previous cases related to stone-pelting. Their interrogation led officers to Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic-turned-Imam from Shopian, who is accused of providing the posters and attempting to radicalise young professionals.
Further investigation took the police to Al Falah University in Faridabad. Here, two doctors, Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Shaheen Sayeed, were arrested after raids uncovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and an astonishing 2,900 kg of material used for manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The seizure included chemicals, detonators, triggering systems, wires and other bomb-making equipment.
Earlier blast in Delhi adds to concerns
The state’s law enforcement agencies are already on heightened alert following a deadly explosion in Delhi earlier this week. A powerful blast inside a Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort killed at least 13 people and injured several others. Investigators are yet to determine if the two incidents are linked, though the proximity of events has raised concerns about coordinated attempts to trigger unrest.
Probe continues as police assess damage
Senior officials have confirmed that a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the circumstances that led to the fatal explosion. The priority, they said, is ensuring the safety of personnel handling the seized chemicals and preventing any further incidents.
The tragic development has cast a shadow over the ongoing multi-state investigation, which had already revealed a sophisticated network allegedly involved in procuring and storing explosive materials. Authorities are expected to issue a comprehensive statement once preliminary forensic examinations are completed.