At Least Nine Killed, Over 30 Injured in Explosives Blast at Srinagar Police Station:

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – At least nine people have died and more than 30 others were injured after a cache of explosives detonated at a police station in Srinagar late on Friday night. The explosion occurred at the Nowgam police station, located in the southern part of the city. According to unnamed sources, some bodies were “completely burned,” making identification difficult. The blast was so powerful that body parts were reportedly found in nearby houses, about 100–200 meters away from the police station. Most of the casualties were policemen and members of the forensic team examining the explosives at the time of the detonation. Two officials from the Srinagar administration also lost their lives in the incident. Five people remain in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll may rise further. NDTV senior executive editor Aditya Raj Kaul emphasized that authorities do not consider the blast a terror attack. “The blast happened when a forensics team and the police were checking the explosive material stored at the police station,” he said. The explosion comes just days after a deadly car blast in New Delhi on Monday, which killed at least 12 people near the historic Red Fort. Officials in the capital have classified that attack as terrorism. Authorities said the suspects arrested in connection with the New Delhi blast were linked to Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a JeM offshoot operating in Kashmir. More than 650 people were detained in Kashmir as part of the ongoing investigation following the New Delhi attack. The Nowgam police station had recently been investigating posters displayed in the area by JeM, warning of potential attacks on security forces and “outsiders.” Police said the investigation revealed a “white-collar terror ecosystem,” involving radicalized professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers operating from Pakistan and other countries. Authorities also recovered nearly 3,000 kilograms (3 tonnes) of explosives, which they said could have been used to carry out a major attack. Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, with both nations claiming the region. The two countries have fought three wars over the territory, and tensions remain high between New Delhi and Islamabad. The blast in Srinagar has shocked the local community, particularly since the victims were primarily law enforcement and forensic personnel working to secure dangerous materials. Authorities have launched an investigation into how such a large quantity of explosives was stored in the police station and are reviewing safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Local officials and emergency responders rushed to the scene to evacuate the injured and secure the area, while forensic experts are continuing to examine the remains and determine the exact cause of the detonation. Families of the victims have been notified, and the community is mourning the loss of officers who were performing their duties when the explosion occurred. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Kashmir, where militant groups continue to operate despite intensive counterterrorism efforts. While authorities have ruled out terrorism in this particular case, the proximity to recent attacks in India’s capital underscores the persistent threat posed by extremist groups in the region.

NEWS