A startling accidental explosion at the Nowgam Police Station has cast a spotlight on the persistent threat of terrorism in the region and its connection to a recently dismantled ‘white-collar’ terror network. The incident on November 14, which resulted in nine deaths and 27 injuries among police and forensic personnel, occurred while a significant quantity of seized explosives – 2,900 kg of chemicals including ammonium nitrate – was being processed. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Jammu and Kashmir Police have classified the event as accidental, though the extensive damage and a mandated inquiry suggest a thorough investigation is underway. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a time-bound probe into the precise cause of the detonation. The blast’s force was considerable, affecting a 5 km area and causing widespread destruction to the police station and adjacent structures. Ongoing sanitization operations are in place due to the scattering of explosive materials. The current focus on Nowgam began in mid-October with the exposure of a terror module involving radicalized professionals and links to Pakistan-based terror groups like JeM. For over thirty years, Nowgam has been a strategically crucial transit point for terrorists moving between South Kashmir, a major hub of militancy, and the city of Srinagar. Security analysts frequently identify it as a key corridor for terror operations. Situated in South Srinagar, its proximity to Pulwama and Shopian facilitates the movement of militants and weapons, exploiting the area’s semi-urban character to evade detection and plan assaults. This strategic importance is reflected in past counter-terror successes, such as the elimination of LeT commander Naveed Jatt. The area has a history of significant terror attacks, including a 2005 car bombing by Jaish-e-Mohammed that claimed 10 lives. The physical layout of Nowgam, with its narrow lanes adjacent to the National Highway, has historically provided militants with escape routes and made security convoys vulnerable.
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