Daijiworld Media Network – Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 15: A devastating explosion late Friday night tore through the Nowgam Police Station on the outskirts of Srinagar, leaving nine people dead and 29 injured. The police station was housing explosives recovered from the Red Fort blast-linked Jaish-e-Mohammad module busted last week.

The explosion was so powerful that it was heard nearly 30 kilometres away. Within moments, the police station and several vehicles parked nearby were engulfed in flames. Fire tenders and ambulances rushed to the spot shortly before midnight, as senior police and security officials moved towards Nowgam. All approach roads were immediately sealed.

Sources said investigators are examining whether the stored explosives detonated during an inspection. The inspection was reportedly being carried out in the presence of a magistrate and a Forensic Science Laboratory team that had arrived to collect samples.

The Nowgam Police Station has been central to the probe that unearthed the interstate Jaish-e-Mohammad module. Three doctors linked to the module were arrested recently from Faridabad in Haryana and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, while another accused, Umar Nabi – believed to be behind the Red Fort blast – remains at large.

The trail began in October when Jaish-related posters surfaced in Nowgam. What appeared to be a minor local issue soon led investigators hundreds of kilometres outside the Valley, exposing the terror network.

During raids on the accused doctors, police recovered over 350 kg of ammonium nitrate – part of nearly 2,900 kg of suspected explosive material including potash, phosphorous, reagents, inflammables, electronic circuits, batteries, remote controls, timers and metal sheets. Authorities have not revealed how much of this was shifted to the Nowgam facility.

Investigations into the cause of the deadly blast are underway.