9 Killed, 25+ Injured as Explosives Detonate at Nowgam Police Station in J&K

9 Killed, Over 25 Injured in Massive Nowgam Police Station Explosion in Srinagar.

At least nine people were killed and more than 25 injured after a massive explosion tore through the Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar late Friday night. The blast occurred while authorities were handling explosives seized from the Faridabad terror module case, officials said on Saturday.

CCTV footage and eyewitness reports showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the building. Several of the injured remain in critical condition, and some are still unaccounted for. Investigators noted that debris and body parts were found as far as 300 feet from the site, highlighting the scale of the explosion.

Possible Triggers: Mishandling or Terror Attack

Police are investigating two main possibilities: accidental ignition of ammonium nitrate during handling in the presence of a magistrate, or a deliberate terror strike. The 350 kg cache of explosives had been partly sent to a forensic lab, with the remainder stored at the police station. Officials are also examining whether a seized car inside the compound may have been rigged with an IED. A shadow outfit linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, PAFF, has claimed responsibility, though verification is ongoing.

Security Response

The area was immediately sealed off, with security forces conducting searches with sniffer dogs. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo visited the injured at local hospitals. J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat held a hybrid security review amid heightened vigilance following the Red Fort car blast in Delhi earlier this week, which killed at least 13 people. Investigators are exploring potential links between the two incidents.

Terror Module and Arrests

The probe into the Nowgam blast began after threatening posters appeared in mid-October. CCTV analysis led to the arrests of local residents Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar. Their interrogation revealed the involvement of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned preacher who allegedly radicalised several doctors.

This led authorities to Al-Falah University in Faridabad, resulting in the arrest of doctors Muzammil Ganaie and Shaheen Sayeed. Investigators recovered large quantities of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sulphur, and other chemicals, as well as an additional 2,900 kg of explosive materials tied to another suspect in Pulwama.

The investigation also traced Dr Umar Nabi as the driver of the Hyundai i20 involved in the Delhi Red Fort blast. Three main suspects—Ganaie, Nabi, and Muzzaffar Rather (absconding)—are believed to have run the module, while the eighth accused, Adeel Rather, was arrested in possession of an AK-56 rifle.

Authorities continue to probe the incident and are searching for any remaining suspects and unexploded material.