Nine people were killed and 31 injured in an explosion at a police station in Nowgam, occupied Kashmir. The explosion occurred when confiscated explosives detonated unexpectedly on Friday night. Among the victims were police personnel, forensic team members, and crime photographers. The blast caused significant damage to the police station and nearby buildings.
The explosives involved in the blast were recovered earlier this week from Faridabad in Haryana. Authorities had been handling the materials with extreme caution due to their unstable nature. Samples of the explosives had been sent for forensic testing on Thursday, the region’s police chief, Nalin Prabhat, confirmed. The explosion occurred just hours after a deadly car blast in Delhi.
The blast in Delhi on Monday killed at least 12 people and injured 30. The Indian government labeled the Delhi blast as an act of terrorism. The two incidents raised concerns about the security situation in the region, which has been tense due to ongoing unrest in Kashmir.
According to police, the explosion in Nowgam was accidental. Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat clarified that no further speculation was necessary about the cause. He confirmed that the explosives had been carefully handled, but the explosion still occurred due to their volatile nature.
The blast in Nowgam has further heightened security concerns in the region. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, while the injured are being treated at local hospitals. The government has pledged to strengthen security measures in the wake of the deadly events in both Kashmir and Delhi.
