Explosion at Nowgam police station slows progress of terror module investigation

A major accidental explosion at Nowgam police station in Srinagar late on Friday night killed nine people and injured 32 others. The explosion also badly affected the ongoing investigation into Jaish-e-Mohammad.linked terror module.

The police station was the center of an expanding investigation over the past two weeks. The investigation began after Jaish posters threatening the police emerged in Bonpora. During the investigation, officers uncovered a large “white collar terrorism” network involving doctors and other highly educated individuals. The group allegedly stored and transported explosives that appeared to be industrial chemicals. A large cache of explosives was seized in Faridabad, which officials said were similar to those used in previous high-impact attacks such as the Red Fort blast.

The seized chemicals were brought to Nowgam police station, an old migrant estate surrounded by houses, for testing. Teams from the State Investigation Agency (SIA), forensic laboratory and revenue department were collecting and packaging samples around 11.20pm when the explosion occurred. The explosion, heard 15 kilometers away, set the building on fire and damaged dozens of nearby homes.

Fire brigade and SDRF teams worked throughout the night to control the fire. Security forces immediately closed all access roads, allowing entry only to senior officials.

A police officer at the scene described the scene as “horrific”, adding that teams handled the samples with great care. “Suddenly, a huge explosion engulfed the entire station. Fire crews worked all night to retrieve the bodies and rescue the injured,” he said.

Neighborhood residents also reported that there was great panic. Nazir Ahmad, who lives nearby, said, “I heard the sound of thunder. The police station caught fire within seconds. People inside were screaming for help. Many houses around us were damaged, and many civilians were slightly injured.”

J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat confirmed that the explosion took place during sampling of volatile chemical substances obtained from the Faridabad module. “Due to the instability of the materials, forensic teams have been working very carefully for two days. Unfortunately, an accidental explosion occurred at around 23.20.”

The incident raised questions about why large quantities of dangerous chemicals were stored and tested at a police station located in a densely populated area. SIA chose Nowgam station for sampling because it was involved in the Jaish poster case and the wider white-collar terror network, officials said.

Investigators are currently analyzing evidence and questioning witnesses to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Locals remember only a minor eruption in the area in the late 1990s; This is nowhere near the scale of Friday’s incident, which devastated the investigating police station and shook the entire Nowgam district.