'Accidental' blast at J&K police station; explosives were from Red Fort terror module; cop, Naib Tehsildar among 9 dead

Nine people were killed and 29 others injured after a massive accidental explosion inside the Nowgam police station on the outskirts of the city here late on Friday night, official sources said on Saturday.

The blast occurred inside the police station where explosives recovered from a Red Fort blast-linked terror module had been stored by the Jammu and Kashmir Police after the recoveries were made in Haryana.

Sources said the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigative Agency (SIA) personnel were present inside the police station. SIA had taken over the investigation of the case.

The explosion triggered a major fire, engulfing the police station and several vehicles in the vicinity. The impact was so powerful that it was heard several kilometres away.

Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir Police began investigating a case involving Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) posters carrying threats to security personnel, which had appeared at several locations in Srinagar’s Bunpora Nowgam. Subsequently, the Nowgam police registered a case and uncovered a terror module with links across different states.

During a brief presser in Srinagar, DGP Nalin Prabhat who readout a statement said nine have dead and 32 are injured.

He said "an accidental explosion has taken place, " and "any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary."

"The cause for this unfortunate incident is being inquired into," he said.

Among the killed included inspector of State Investigative Agency (SIA)and a Naib Tehsildar of Srinagar.