Srinagar Police Station Blast Kills 9; Explosives Linked to Faridabad Case Detonate
A tragic incident unfolded in Srinagar on Friday night as a massive explosion shook the Nowgam Police Station, killing at least nine people and injuring 29 others. According to officials, the blast occurred when a large quantity of confiscated explosives — previously seized from a Faridabad-based terror module — detonated unexpectedly. The impact was so severe that the building was engulfed in fire, and thick clouds of smoke billowed into the sky as emergency teams rushed to the area.
Authorities said the death toll may rise because several injured individuals are in critical condition. Most victims were policemen and forensic specialists who were inside the station inspecting and sealing the recovered chemicals at the time of the incident. Their bodies were later taken to the Police Control Room in Srinagar for formal procedures.
How the Blast Happened
Initial investigations suggest the explosion occurred while officers and forensic teams were examining a large stash of materials linked to the recently exposed “white-collar” terror network. Around 350 kg of confiscated chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, had been stored inside the Nowgam Police Station, where the primary case related to the module was registered.
Officials told PTI that one possible cause could be the accidental ignition of ammonium nitrate during the sample-sealing process conducted in the presence of a magistrate. Another possibility — though considered less likely so far — points to a deliberate terror strike aimed at destroying evidence. CCTV footage and eyewitness videos show the structure in flames as teams struggled to contain the blaze.
Investigators are also looking into whether a seized vehicle — parked within the station premises — may have been secretly fitted with an IED, which could have triggered or intensified the explosion.
Connection to the Faridabad Terror Module
The chemicals stored inside the police station were part of a massive recovery made earlier from a rented accommodation in Faridabad, believed to be used by members of a radicalised terror module. The network reportedly involved doctors, students, and professionals, who were operating under foreign influence, according to multiple investigative agencies.
One of the key figures, Dr Muzzamil Shakeel Ganaie, was arrested after authorities discovered around 3,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials linked to him. The seized chemicals were split between forensic labs and the Nowgam police premises — which is why such a large quantity remained inside the building at the time of the blast.
Recent Delhi Blast Raises Alarm
This tragic explosion came just four days after the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed more than a dozen people. With both incidents occurring within a short span, security agencies are now exploring whether there is a larger coordinated pattern behind these events.
Officials say the Red Fort explosion involved another accused, Dr Umar Nabi, who is currently on the run. Sources believe he may have panicked after recent seizures and attempted to relocate explosive materials, resulting in the deadly detonation. Investigators also believe the device used in the Delhi attack may have been improperly assembled and not fully activated.
Ongoing Investigation and Security Measures
Following the Srinagar blast, the area was sealed, and sniffer dogs and bomb squads conducted an extensive sweep to ensure no additional explosives were present. Senior officials, including J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, held an emergency hybrid security review across the Union Territory.
Police have linked the origin of the terror module to threatening posters that appeared in Nowgam in mid-October. CCTV footage led them to three local residents previously involved in stone-pelting. Their questioning exposed a wider network operated by Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic alleged to have radicalised several young doctors.
Among those arrested so far are Dr Shaheen Sayeed, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, and Dr Muzammil Shakeel, with more than 2,900 kg of chemicals recovered from multiple locations. Two key figures — Dr Umar Nabi and Dr Muzzaffar Rather — remain absconding.
A Complex Network Unfolds
Officials say that the Nowgam blast, the Red Fort car explosion, and recent arrests reveal a deeply embedded white-collar terror ecosystem involving highly educated individuals. This network allegedly handled explosives, planned attacks, and coordinated the movement of materials across states under the direction of foreign handlers.
As multiple agencies piece together the chain of events, the Srinagar explosion stands as a grim reminder of the dangerous scale of the operation they are attempting to dismantle.
Related News
