9 killed in Kashmir police station blast while handling explosives seized in terror raids

Nine persons were killed and 32 injured in an accidental explosion at the Nowgam police station in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night, the Union Territory’s police chief said.

The blast, which took place at 11.20 pm, occurred when the Forensic Science Laboratory team was taking samples of explosive substances and chemicals seized in the recent raids on a terror module in Faridabad, Haryana.

“Any other speculation into the cause of the incident is unnecessary,” Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat told reporters on Saturday.

An inquiry has been launched into the incident, he added.

The explosive substances had been transported from Faridabad and kept “securely in an open area” of the Nowgam police station, Prabhat said.

As per the procedure, samples of the recovered material had to be forwarded for forensic and chemical examination. The forensics team had begun the process on Thursday, the police officer said.

The material was being handled by the forensics team with “utmost caution” because of the “unstable and sensitive nature of the recovery”, Prabhat added.

Among the nine persons who were killed, one was from the State Investigation Agency, three from the forensics team, two crime scene photographers, two revenue officials who were part of the magistrate’s team and a tailor associated with the team.

Of the 32 persons injured, 27...

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