Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday denied any terrorist involvement in the Naugam police station blast, saying initial inputs indicated it was an accident that occurred during sample-collection work.
He said an inquiry has been ordered to find out the exact sequence of events. Speaking to reporters, LG Sinha said, “There is no terrorist angle in the Naugam incident. Samples were being taken when the accident occurred. I have ordered an inquiry into the matter.”
Meanwhile, officials said on Sunday that the area around Nowgam police station in Srinagar has been sealed by Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams and security forces as investigation is underway after the blast that killed nine people and injured 32 others.
Security personnel and forensic experts are investigating at the spot to collect evidence. Nine policemen were killed and 32 others were injured in an accidental blast inside Naugam police station late on Friday night. Additionally, a nearby building was also heavily damaged. The injured have been admitted to Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) in Srinagar for further treatment.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Saturday stressed that it was unnecessary to make any speculations about the incident as preliminary findings point towards an unintentional explosion during the mandatory forensic process. The nine people who lost their lives include a State Investigation Agency (SIA) officer, three FSL personnel, two crime scene photographers, two revenue officers assisting the magistrate’s team and a tailor associated with the operation, the DGP said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday assured that the government will provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Nowgam police station blast. An official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said Chief Minister Abdullah has directed Jammu and Kashmir’s Education and Health Minister Sakina Itu to ensure best treatment for the injured and assured that the damaged structures will be given appropriate compensation.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday demanded a thorough and independent probe into the Nowgam police station blast, saying “mistakes” in the initial handling of explosives led to the tragedy that claimed nine lives and damaged several residential structures.