Key Points
- Seven people killed and 27 injured in explosion at Nowgam police station, Srinagar
- Blast occurred during forensic sampling of 360 kg explosives seized from Faridabad
- Explosives linked to White Collar Terror Module investigation
- Material connected to earlier Delhi Red Fort blast on November 10
- Eight suspects arrested including three doctors from Al Falah University
- All roads to police station sealed, investigation underway
Srinagar: A catastrophic explosion tore through the Nowgam police station compound in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, late Friday night, resulting in seven fatalities and 27 injuries. The tragic incident occurred when personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and local police were conducting routine sample collection and inspection of seized explosive materials linked to an ongoing terror investigation.
The force of the blast was so intense that multiple vehicles parked within the premises were destroyed, and the shockwave was felt across neighboring areas. Emergency response teams, including several fire engines and bomb disposal squads, rushed to the scene immediately after the explosion. Security forces deployed sniffer dogs to ensure no secondary devices were present, while all access roads to the police station were cordoned off for safety and investigation purposes.
Connection to White Collar Terror Module
The explosive material that detonated was part of a massive 360-kilogram cache seized from Faridabad, Haryana, during investigations into the sophisticated “White Collar Terror Module.” According to intelligence sources, this operation has exposed a well-organized network involving educated professionals allegedly planning coordinated attacks across northern India.
Dr. Muzammil Ganai, a key suspect in this terror module, had rented accommodation from Maulvi Istak in Fatehpur Taga village, Faridabad, where authorities discovered a substantial quantity of explosives during a targeted raid. Dr. Ganai is among eight individuals arrested so far in connection with this case, which was officially registered on October 19, 2024. Three of the arrested suspects are doctors associated with Al Falah University, raising serious questions about radicalization in educational institutions.
Link to Delhi Red Fort Explosion
Investigators have established a direct connection between these seized explosives and the blast that occurred near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort on November 10. Before that incident, Haryana police had confiscated an enormous 2,900 kilograms of explosive materials from various locations in Faridabad, suggesting a large-scale operation was in the planning stages.
The timing and scale of these seizures indicate that authorities may have disrupted a significant terror plot targeting major urban centers and crowded public spaces. Security agencies are now examining whether the Nowgam explosion was purely accidental or if there were lapses in storage and handling protocols that led to this tragedy.
Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny
The incident has raised critical questions about the standard operating procedures for storing and handling seized explosive materials at police facilities. Experts suggest that such large quantities of volatile substances should be stored in specialized bunkers away from populated areas and handled only by trained bomb disposal units with appropriate safety equipment.
Preliminary reports suggest the explosion may have been triggered during the sampling process, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the entire 360-kilogram cache was stored at the Nowgam facility or if only a portion was being examined at the time of the blast.
Investigation Continues
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances leading to the explosion. Senior officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and intelligence bureaus are expected to join the probe, given the case’s connection to interstate terror networks and the magnitude of the White Collar Terror Module investigation.
Medical teams are treating the 27 injured personnel at various hospitals across Srinagar, with several reported to be in critical condition. The incident has sent shockwaves through law enforcement agencies nationwide, prompting immediate reviews of explosive storage facilities and handling protocols at police stations across India.
