Massive explosion inside J&K police station leaves 8 injured

At least eight people were injured, three of them critically, in a massive explosion at Nowgam police station in Srinagar on Friday night, officials said. Jammu and Kashmir police recently unearthed an inter-state terror module and seized around 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, during raids in different states across the country.

Authorities said that the explosion occurred around 23.20 and a huge flame surrounded the police station. They added that many vehicles parked at the police station building caught fire and the impact of the explosion was felt throughout the region.

The injured, most of whom had burn injuries, were shifted to nearby hospitals in Srinagar for treatment, officials said.

Initial reports suggested that a joint team of J&K Police and Forensic Science Laboratory was investigating explosives, including ammonium nitrate, seized in recent raids in Haryana’s Faridabad at the time of the blast.

However, police have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the explosion and the death toll.

An official said that approximately 2,900 kg of improvised explosive (IED) materials were seized during the raids and were kept at the police station as part of the investigation.

Nowgam police station officers spotted pro-Jaish-e-Mohammad posters in the area on October 19 and subsequently arrested seven local persons. The investigation into the posters began on 1 November with Dr. Adeel Ahmad Pretty and then Dr. from Kashmir. It resulted in the arrest of another doctor named Muzamil Ahmad Ganaie (aka Musaib).

Police said the doctors were part of an interstate terrorism module. According to the police, the group of seven people was involved in fundraising, logistics and purchasing of weapons and bomb-making materials.