Nine people were killed and 32 injured in a powerful explosion that ripped through a police station in Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar late Friday. Officials said the incident, though accidental was directly linked to the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of explosive material from a terror module exposed in Faridabad, Haryana.
The blast occurred during a forensic sampling operation and was caused by the unstable nature of the chemicals recovered in the case. The explosion destroyed a section of the police station, set several vehicles ablaze, and shattered windows in homes several kilometres away.
How Faridabad’s Explosives Reached Srinagar
The explosives at the centre of the blast were part of a major crackdown on a “white-collar” Jaish-e-Mohammed module operating across Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. The same network is linked to the Red Fort car blast on November 10, which killed at least 10 people.
The trail began on October 19 in Srinagar, when Jaish posters warning of a “spectacular attack” were found pasted on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam. Investigators analysed CCTV footage, detained three suspects with a history of stone-pelting, and extracted leads that pointed to Srinagar-based cleric Irfan Ahmad Wagay. Police say Wagay was connected to urban support cells of JeM and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
This probe took them to Faridabad, where raids at two villages uncovered 2,900 kg of explosive material that included chemicals such as ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur. Most of the stockpile was hidden in the house of Hafeez Mohammad Ishtiaq, an imam in Dhera Colony. A number of doctors connected with Al Falah University were also arrested.
In this phase, Dr Umar un Nabi, a medical practitioner in Al Falah Medical College, and member of the same module, is accused of causing the Red Fort car blast with material from the Faridabad stockpile.
Why the Material Was Stored at Nowgam Police Station
Of the seized explosives, about 360 kg was sent to the Nowgam police station after the Faridabad recovery on November 9 and 10. The Nowgam police station was the location of the FIR about the JeM poster case and the headquarters of the investigation team.
As per standard protocol, the extraction of samples, their testing, and documentation by teams of Jammu & Kashmir Police and FSL had to be done prior to forwarding these for advanced chemical analysis.
The process of sampling had been going on for two days. Reason being the volume, sensitivity, and unstable nature of the chemicals.
What Caused the Nowgam Blast
J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat confirmed the blast was accidental.
According to the police:
This was a highly sensitive and volatile material.
The FSL team engaged in a routine sampling process.
At approximately 11:20 pm, an unintended reaction caused the explosion.
Heavy structural damage, multiple secondary explosions, and resulting fires delayed rescue efforts after the blast.
Who Were the Victims
Nine people were killed, including:
3 forensic experts
2 revenue officers, including a Naib Tehsildar
2 police photographers
1 SIA personnel
1 tailor helping out the team
At least 24 police personnel and three civilians remain hospitalized.
The Wider Terror Network
Investigators believe that the terror module was led by a core group of highly educated individuals, including doctors:
Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie — from whom 360 kg was recovered in Faridabad
Dr Umar un Nabi – accused in the Red Fort blast
Dr Adeel Rather — linked to an AK-56 seizure
Dr Shaheen Sayeed — detained in Faridabad
Police said a number of its members were radicalized by cleric Irfan Wagay, who had access to the medical fraternity.
One key suspect, Dr Muzzaffar Rather, remains absconding.
The Investigation Ahead
Authorities are now analysing:
Why is such a large amount of unstable explosives stored inside an active police station?
Whether alternative storage or containment could have prevented the blast
The full extent of the inter-state terror financing, recruitment, and logistics chain. The DGP urged people not to speculate and said the cause will be established after a technical investigation.
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