At least nine people were killed and 32 others injured after a massive cache of explosives—seized from a “white-collar” terror module in Faridabad (Haryana) and brought to the Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar—detonated around midnight on Friday, reducing much of the building to rubble.
The explosives were seized from the same module, which is believed to be behind the recent blast near Delhi’s Red Fort.
The explosion engulfed nearly a dozen vehicles parked inside the police station premises, leaving them completely charred. The impact was so powerful that large portions of the police station collapsed, while several residential houses in the neighbourhood suffered extensive damage.
Among the dead were two magistrates, an officer of the State Investigation Agency (SIA), three personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), two crime-scene photographers, and a tailor, Mohammad Shaffi Parray, who was assisting the team. NIA has initiated investigations into the explosion.
The explosion took place while police officers and an FSL team were sampling the seized explosive material inside the police station premises.
The Nowgam police station had first of all got the clue of the module consisting of doctors in Haryana and UP planning terror strikes in Delhi. An investigation was initiated after registering an FIR.
J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat said that 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians from adjacent localities sustained injuries and were immediately shifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.
The DGP described the explosion as “accidental” and stressed that any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary.
However, the Pakistan-backed People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), which is a shadow terror group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), had earlier claimed the responsibility for triggering the explosion.
Giving details of the incident, the DGP said, “During the investigation in FIR 162 of 2025 of Police Station Nowgam, a huge quantity of explosive substances, chemicals and reagents were also recovered from Faridabad on 9 and 10 November. This recovery, like the rest of the recoveries which we have done, was transported and kept securely in the open area of the Police Station, Nowgam. As part of the prescribed procedure, the samples of the recovery had to be forwarded for further forensic and chemical examination. On account of the voluminous nature of the recovery, this process has been going on for the past 2 days, which means yesterday and the day before, by the FSL team,” DGP said.
“Due to the unstable and sensitive nature of the recovery, the sampling process and handling were being done with utmost caution by the FSL team. However, unfortunately, during this course, last night, around 11:20 PM, an accidental explosion took place. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” DGP added.
“9 people have lost their lives in this incident. 1 personnel of SIA, 3 personnel of the FSL team, 2 crime scene photographers, 2 revenue officials who were part of the Magistrate’s team, and 1 tailor who was associated with the team. In addition, 27 police personnel, 2 revenue officials and 3 civilians from the adjacent areas have received injuries and were immediately evacuated to the nearest hospital. The building of the Police Station has been very severely damaged and even the adjacent buildings have been affected. The extent of this damage is being ascertained. The cause of this unfortunate incident is being investigated. J&K police stands in solidarity with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief,” DGP further said.
Eyewitnesses and CCTV clips from the area show the blast ripping through the building, sending flames and thick smoke into the air.
The explosion hit hours after DGP Nalin Prabhat conducted a hybrid security review, with BSF, CRPF and intelligence agencies.
All formations briefed him on the ongoing Non Kinetic and Kinetic Operations.
It is worth mentioning that in the ongoing investigation of the Faridabad terror module, the police have arrested 7 persons, including 4 doctors.
The investigation has revealed a white collar terror ecosystem, involving radicalised professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers operating from Pakistan and other countries, police had said.