A devastating explosion rocked Nowgam police station, near Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night, claiming nine lives and injuring 29 others. The deceased were primarily police personnel and forensic officers inspecting a large quantity of seized explosives stored at the facility. Two senior administrative officers of Srinagar were also among the casualties.
The explosives, recently recovered from Faridabad in Haryana, were under examination when the blast occurred. Emergency response teams swiftly transferred the injured to the 92 Base Hospital and SKIMS for treatment. Senior law enforcement officers quickly secured the area, establishing a wide perimeter to prevent further harm and to facilitate investigation.
This police station had previously uncovered posters linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, warning of attacks on security forces and outsiders. Further investigation revealed that highly educated, professional individuals were involved in these extremist activities. The operation led to the seizure of additional explosives and the arrest of individuals dubbed “terror doctors.”
Dr Adil Ahmad Rathore, arrested in October, was seen on CCTV placing the threatening posters. Rathore, formerly working at Anantnag Government Medical College and later in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, had an assault rifle in his possession. Interrogation pointed to Dr Muzammil Shakeel of Al-Falah Medical College, Faridabad. Searches of associates’ homes uncovered nearly 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, a primary component for explosives. Dr Shahin Saeed was subsequently arrested, and within hours a car explosion in a busy Delhi area near Lal Qila killed 13 people and injured more than 20. The following day, Dr Umar Nabi was also identified as part of the network.
The incident underscores the grave risks faced by law enforcement when handling explosives and raises serious concerns about highly qualified professionals being involved in militant activities. Authorities continue to investigate the network’s operations across multiple states, highlighting the persistent threat posed by organised extremist cells.