Srinagar, November 15 — National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Saturday called for an impartial and high-level investigation into the deadly explosion at Nowgam Police Station, which resulted in nine fatalities and left several others injured.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah criticised the initial handling of the explosive material, suggesting that the tragedy could have been avoided had specialists been involved.
He said that those with proper technical expertise should have been consulted before the material was taken up for examination.
“The way this material was dealt with was a mistake. Experts should have been approached first. Because that didn’t happen, nine lives were lost and nearby homes suffered major damage,” he said.
Abdullah also pointed to the wider atmosphere of suspicion surrounding Kashmiris after the November 10 blast in Delhi, saying residents of the region continue to face unwarranted scrutiny.
“People are still blaming Kashmiris for what happened in Delhi. When will we be accepted as Indians? Those responsible for radicalising these young doctors must be questioned,” he added.
He said the reported involvement of individuals with medical backgrounds highlights the need for a deeper probe into the circumstances leading to the Nowgam incident.
J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat urged the public not to engage in speculation. He stated that preliminary findings indicate the explosion occurred accidentally during a routine forensic procedure inside the police station.
The Friday night blast claimed the lives of nine personnel — among them an SIA officer, three Forensic Science Laboratory experts, two crime-scene photographers, two revenue officials, and one civilian tailor assisting the team. Another 32 individuals were injured and are being treated at SMHS Hospital.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the explosion was triggered by highly volatile material recovered during an ongoing investigation into a terror module linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast, which had killed 12 people.
Authorities have launched a detailed inquiry to determine the sequence of events and prevent future mishaps.
