‘No terror link’: J&K police chief says Nowgam police station blast accidental

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat on Saturday dismissed “any other speculation” over the cause of the devastating explosion at Nowgam Police Station, confirming that nine people were killed and 27 injured in what he termed an accidental blast.

Addressing a presser at the Police Control Room, here, he said the explosive material that detonated had been seized during a probe that began last month, after Jaish-e-Mohammad posters surfaced in the Nowgam area.

The investigation soon widened, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including three doctors from Kashmir, linked to what police described as a white-collar terror module.

During subsequent raids in Faridabad, police recovered a massive cache of explosive material, including ammonium nitrate and other bomb-making substances, much of it stored in rented premises linked to the arrested doctors. The seized material was transported to Kashmir and kept “securely in the open area” of the Nowgam Police Station.

The recovery of explosives took place well before the Red Fort blast in Delhi on November 10, which killed at least 13 people and later exposed overlapping digital and logistical links with the same module.

“As per procedure, samples had to be forwarded for forensic and chemical examination. Because of the volume, the process had been underway since yesterday,” Prabhat said.

He added that despite the sensitive nature of the material, “handling was being done with utmost caution,” but an accidental detonation occurred at 11:20 pm. “Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” he stressed.

Among the nine dead are an SIA officer, three FSL experts, two photographers, two revenue officials, and a local tailor. The injured include 27 policemen, two revenue officials, and three civilians from adjacent homes.

The explosion severely damaged the police station building, also impacting nearby houses.

“The cause of this unfortunate incident is being inquired into. J&K Police stands in solidarity with the families in this hour of grief,” the DGP said.