Nine Killed, 31 Injured as Seized Explosives Detonate at Nowgam Police Station in Kashmir

Accidental detonation of confiscated material at Nowgam station kills nine

Nine people were killed and 31 others were injured when explosives that had been seized earlier in the week detonated inside a police station in Nowgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said Saturday. The material had been recovered from Faridabad in Haryana and sent for forensic testing because it was considered "unstable and sensitive."

Region Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said samples of the seized material were dispatched for further examination starting Thursday and were being handled with "utmost caution." He added that, "however, unfortunately during this course (on Friday) around 11:20 pm, an accidental explosion has taken place. Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary."

Nalin Prabhat: "Any other speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary."

Those killed included police officers, members of the forensic team, two crime photographers and other local administration personnel who were present when the device detonated. The police station building suffered severe damage and neighbouring structures were also affected.

Local media reported that the militant group People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), which is alleged to have links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), claimed responsibility for the explosion. Jammu and Kashmir police dismissed those claims as false. In a post on X, the police described any PAFF claim—or claims by "any other Pakistani terrorist group"—as "patently false, baseless and mischievous."

The Nowgam blast occurred just days after a powerful car explosion in New Delhi that killed 12 people and wounded about 30. Indian authorities have called the Delhi blast an act of terrorism and vowed to pursue "the perpetrators, their collaborators, and their sponsors".

What we know

• Location: Nowgam police station, Indian-administered Kashmir.
• Casualties: 9 dead, 31 injured.
• Origin of explosives: Recovered from Faridabad, Haryana earlier this week.
• Timing: Explosion reported at approximately 11:20 pm on Friday.
• Investigation: Samples sent for forensic testing; authorities handling material as unstable and sensitive.
• Claims of responsibility: PAFF claimed responsibility but police have rejected the claim.

Authorities continue to investigate the exact sequence of events. Further forensic results and official updates are expected as investigators process the material and the site.