At least nine people were killed and several others injured after a deadly explosion occurred near Naugam police station complex in Jammu and Kashmir late Friday night. Soon after the blast, CRPF Inspector General (IG) Pawan Kumar Sharma reached the spot to inspect the relief operations and assess the security measures.
Additionally, security personnel have cordoned off the area around the police station to ensure safety, while officials are present at the spot to enforce all precautionary protocols.
Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat also visited the spot and left after assessing the situation. The investigation into the cause of the explosion is still ongoing. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area and to cooperate with security forces as rescue and investigation operations continue.
An explosion occurred near Naugam police station complex in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night. Security personnel are present at the scene and sniffer dogs have been deployed to help in the investigation.
Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo reached the hospital to meet the victims injured in the blast.
Notably, the November 10 Delhi blasts are linked to objectionable posters in Srinagar’s Nowgam area, for which an FIR was registered on October 19, sources said, adding that security forces had taken a crackdown to bust an inter-state Jaish-e-Mohammed module linked to the terror plot.
Sources said that during the investigation of this case, two arrests were made from Shopian and Ganderbal between October 20 and 27 and on November 5, Dr. Adil, a doctor, was arrested from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Two days later, an AK-56 rifle and other ammunition were seized from a hospital in Anantnag and later more guns, pistols and explosives were recovered from a place in Faridabad, he said.
During interrogation, the accused revealed the names of other persons involved in this module.
Following this, Dr Muzammil of Al Falah Medical College, Faridabad was arrested, sources said. Based on these leads, further arrests were made and a large cache of weapons and explosives was seized.
On November 9, a person named Madrasi, resident of Dhauj, Faridabad, was arrested from his house. The next day, a large consignment of explosives amounting to 2,563 kg was recovered from the house of Hafiz Mohammad Ishtiaq, a resident of Mewat and Imam of Al Falah Mosque in Dhera Colony, Faridabad.
Sources said that in the subsequent raid, an additional 358 kg of explosive material, detonators and timers were seized. Additionally, around 3,000 kg of explosives and bomb making equipment kept by this module were also seized.
Sources said that during these operations, Omar, who was part of the module and working as a physician at Al Falah Medical College, changed his location, as he was under constant pressure from security forces.
According to CCTV footage, the car which exploded at the Red Fort was being driven by Umar, a member of this module. Sources said the blast was caused by similar material deposited in Faridabad, from where around 3,000 kg of explosives were recovered.
He said whether the blast was pre-planned or accidental, it would be decided in further investigation. Security agencies and intelligence network “successfully dismantled this module in Faridabad”, recovered huge quantity of explosive material and foiled a major conspiracy to cause large-scale damage in the country.
Sources said that Umar ran away after being frightened by the successful action of the security forces and his restlessness and frustration probably led to the explosion at the Red Fort. Whether it was deliberate or accidental will only be known in the investigation, but it is certain that this blast was an integral part of a series of events in which a major terrorist module was exposed and a huge quantity of explosives were recovered.
As soon as news of the blast was received on Tuesday, Delhi Police and other security agencies reached the spot. Home Minister Amit Shah immediately directed NSG, NIA and forensic teams to reach the spot. The injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital and the ownership of the vehicle used in the blast was confirmed.
Necessary DNA, explosives and other samples have been collected from the spot and sent for forensic examination. The investigation has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency.
