A devastating explosion tore through Nowgam police station in Srinagar on Friday night, claiming the lives of nine individuals and injuring 27 others, officials confirmed on Saturday. The blast occurred while personnel were carefully extracting samples from a large cache of explosives linked to the so-called ‘white-collar’ terror module case.
Among the deceased were three forensic experts, two revenue department officials including a Naib Tehsildar, two police photographers, a member of the State Investigation Agency, and a tailor. The explosion, authorities said, was triggered by the unstable chemicals, which had been transported from Faridabad in Haryana.
The explosive materials were part of the 360 kilograms seized from the residence of accused Dr. Muzammil Ganaie. The force of the blast shattered the calm night, severely damaging the police station building. Small successive detonations further hampered rescue efforts by the bomb disposal squad. At least 24 police personnel and three civilians have been hospitalized following the incident.
This tragedy follows a meticulous investigation by Srinagar police that began after posters threatening law enforcement appeared in Bunpora, Nowgam, in mid-October. A detailed review of CCTV footage led to the arrest of the first three suspects—Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar—who had been involved in stone-pelting incidents and the distribution of threatening posters.
Subsequent investigations traced the conspiracy to Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam, and ultimately to Al Falah University in Faridabad, where Dr. Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed were arrested. The massive chemical cache recovered included ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur. Authorities say the terror module was primarily operated by a core trio of doctors, while investigations into additional accomplices are ongoing.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who work on the frontlines of law enforcement and forensic science. Families, colleagues, and the local community are mourning deeply, and the city of Srinagar remains in shock at the scale of the loss.
