Srinagar Police Station Blast: 9 Killed in Explosives Handling 'Accident' Amid Terror Probe
Image Source: Internet
A devastating blast at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday night left at least nine people dead and several others injured. The explosion occurred around 11:20 PM when a specialized team was handling a large cache of explosives, weighing approximately 360 kg, that had been seized in connection with a terror module investigation. The blast, which severely damaged the police station building and nearby structures, has been described as an accident by senior officials. The explosives were being extracted for forensic and chemical examination when the blast occurred. The incident has sparked an investigation, with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordering a probe to determine the cause of the explosion. The victims include three personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, two crime photographers, two Revenue officials, one official from the State Investigation Agency, and one tailor associated with the team. Additionally, 27 police personnel, two revenue officials, and three civilians were injured in the incident and have been evacuated to local hospitals for treatment. Senior officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Joint Secretary Prashant Lokhande, have dismissed speculation of a terror attack, emphasizing that the blast was an unfortunate accident. The investigation into the blast is ongoing, with the government promising to provide compensation to those affected. The incident has also raised concerns about the handling of explosives and the need for stronger intelligence and anti-terror mechanisms. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged the Central government to strengthen its anti-terror measures, while Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the early recovery of the injured.
