CCTV captures moment when Kulgam police station blew up | WATCH

Srinagar: Shocking footage has emerged showing the magnitude of the blast that ripped through the Nowgam police station in Srinagar, apparently while authorities were extracting samples from the large cache of explosives confiscated in the 'white-collar' terror module case. At least 9 people have been killed and nearly 30 injured in the blast.

An accidental blast tore through Nowgam police station late Friday night, killing eight people and injuring 27, mostly police personnel and forensic officials. The explosion occurred while authorities were sampling explosives recovered from a Faridabad-based “white-collar” terror module linked to the November 10 Red Fort car blast. The material, weighing around 360 kilograms and including ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, had been seized from the rented residence of Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie.

Casualties and Injuries

• Deaths: According to reports at least 8 people lost their lives, including police personnel and administrative staff.
• Injured: 27 individuals, comprising policemen, administrative staff, and nearby civilians, were injured and treated in hospitals. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo visited the hospitals to meet the victims.

Cause and Investigation

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blast.

Preliminary reports suggest the explosion may be linked to explosives previously recovered during counter-terror operations.

It remains unclear whether the blast was accidental or deliberate; forensic analysis and further inquiry are ongoing.

The incident is believed to be linked to a Faridabad-based Jaish-e-Mohammed module previously investigated by security agencies.

What happened so far:

• October 19: FIR registered in Srinagar regarding objectionable posters.
• October 20–27 & November 5: Multiple arrests, including Dr Adil (Saharanpur) and Dr Muzammil (Faridabad).
• November 9–10: Seizure of a massive cache of explosives (approx. 3,000 kg), firearms, pistols, and detonators from multiple locations including Faridabad and Anantnag.
• Red Fort Explosion Link: CCTV footage confirmed that Umar, a member of this module, drove the car involved in the Red Fort blast.

Damage and Site Assessment

• The explosion caused severe structural damage to the police station and surrounding buildings.
• Vehicles inside the station were destroyed or damaged.
• Emergency personnel and firefighters are still managing hazards and ensuring the safety of the surrounding area.

Security Response

• Senior police officials, including DGP and IGP, oversaw rescue operations.
• Sniffer dogs and forensic teams were deployed to examine explosive residues.
• Delhi Police, NSG, NIA, and local authorities reached the site promptly following reports of the explosion.

Forensic and Investigative Measures

• Forensic teams collected DNA, explosive material samples, and other evidence from the site.
• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the investigation.
• Authorities are coordinating to determine whether the explosion was accidental or part of a broader terror-related plan.

Official Statements

• Local administration and police confirmed casualties and ongoing rescue operations.
• Security agencies highlighted that the blast occurred during operations linked to previously seized explosives from a dismantled terror module.
• The investigation will determine the exact nature of the incident, while ensuring the safety of surrounding areas.

CCTV footage reportedly captured the moments leading up to the explosion, providing investigators with crucial visual evidence. Eight bodies have so far been retrieved from the scene, while the injured, comprising 24 police personnel and three civilians, have been admitted to hospitals across Srinagar. The blast damaged the police station building, and smaller successive explosions hindered immediate rescue operations by the bomb disposal squad. Some explosives had been stored at the Forensic Lab, while the majority remained at the police station where the primary case against the terror module was registered.

The terror module investigation began after threatening posters appeared on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, in mid-October. CCTV analysis led to the identification and arrest of Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar, who had past stone-pelting cases and were involved in pasting the posters. Their interrogation revealed Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam, who supplied the posters and is believed to have radicalised the doctors.

The investigation eventually traced the module to Al Falah University in Faridabad, leading to the arrests of Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, and the seizure of a large cache of explosives. The module is believed to be orchestrated by a core group of doctors — Muzammil Ganaie, Umar Nabi (driver of the Red Fort blast vehicle), and Muzzaffar Rather (absconding). Dr Adeel Rather, brother of Muzzaffar Rather, was also arrested with an AK-56 rifle, and his role remains under investigation.

The Nowgam police station blast underscores the dangers faced by personnel handling seized explosive material and highlights the broader terror conspiracy that authorities were investigating.