What Happened at the Nowgam Police Station Explosion?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Accidental explosion at Nowgam police station resulted in nine fatalities.
- DGP Nalin Prabhat dismissed terrorism links.
- Explosive materials were being handled for forensic examination.
- Emergency services were deployed to assist the injured.
- Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Srinagar, Nov 15 (NationPress) The Director General of Police (DGP) for Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, expressed his sorrow regarding the recent explosion at the Nowgam police station, labeling it a tragic event. He firmly rejected any claims linking the explosion to terrorism, asserting that alternative theories surrounding the incident were merely unwarranted speculation.
During a press briefing held at the Police Control Room (PCR), the DGP stated, “A substantial quantity of explosive materials, originating from Faridabad, was securely stored in an open area at the Nowgam Police Station.”
“Due to the large volume of recovered materials, the sampling process had been ongoing for the past two days, with samples being prepared for subsequent forensic and chemical analysis.
“Considering the volatile nature of these explosive substances, we handled them with utmost caution.”
“Tragically, at approximately 11:20 pm on Friday, an accidental explosion occurred involving the confiscated materials.”
“Any further speculation regarding the cause of this incident is unnecessary. In this tragic event, nine individuals lost their lives, including one member of the Special Investigation Agency, two revenue officers, three staff members from the FLS team, two photographers from the crime branch, and a tailor.”
“The police station itself suffered extensive damage, and surrounding structures were also impacted. Currently, the precise cause of this unfortunate event remains unknown. The police force stands in solidarity with the bereaved families.”
During the press conference, the DGP did not entertain questions.
The injured parties were transported to the Army’s base hospital located in the Badami Bagh area and the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKICC) in Soura for medical care.
Earlier that same day, DGP Nalin Prabhat, accompanied by high-ranking police officials, visited the Nowgam Police Station to assess the situation firsthand.
The explosion within the Nowgam Police Station was so powerful that it shattered windows of nearby buildings, with the sound reverberating across areas located 5-10 kilometers away from Nowgam.
A number of vehicles parked within the police station were engulfed in flames due to the explosion, prompting the deployment of fire services to extinguish the fire.
Ambulances quickly arrived at the scene to transport injured officers to medical facilities.
It's noteworthy that J&K Police had previously seized 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate while dismantling a white collar terror module in Faridabad, in collaboration with Haryana Police.
During a raid on Dr. Muzammil Ganaie in Faridabad, an additional 360 kg of the same explosive was recovered.
While Dr. Adil Rather and Dr. Muzammil Ganaie were apprehended, a third accomplice, Dr. Umar Nabi, managed to evade capture. He was subsequently killed in a car explosion near the Red Fort, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries.
A female doctor from Lucknow, Shaheen Shahid, was also arrested after an assault rifle was discovered in her vehicle.
The arrest of two Over Ground Workers (OGWs) associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group facilitated the dismantling of this terror network.
A faction of JeM, identifying itself as the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), claimed responsibility for the explosion; however, this assertion was firmly rejected by the DGP.