Nowgam Police Station Blast Raises Questions on Explosive Handling and SOP Gaps

Context:

• A massive explosion at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar killed nine people after over 350 kg of ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials detonated.

• The explosives were recovered from a terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad and reportedly connected to the Red Fort blast case, bringing renewed focus on procedural delays, storage risks, and institutional bottlenecks in handling seized explosives.

Key Highlights:

Origin and Transport of Explosives

• Materials recovered included:

  • Ammonium nitrate

  • Chemicals

  • Batteries

  • Detonators

  • Timers

• The explosives were transported over 1,000 km from Faridabad to Jammu & Kashmir.

• Police stated that:

  • Materials were carried in airtight containers

  • Transported in small trucks to avoid detection

  • Shifted under security protocols

Storage at Nowgam Police Station

• Explosives were kept in the station’s malkhana (secured strong room).

• Officials claimed:

  • Proper Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were followed

  • Materials were sealed and isolated

• However, the sheer quantity of explosives posed inherent safety risks, regardless of precautions.

Delay in Destruction

• Forensic samples had not yet been sent, which is mandatory before:

  • Seeking court permission for destruction of seized explosives

• As per procedure:

  • Explosives cannot be destroyed without judicial approval

  • Forensic confirmation is required to preserve evidentiary value

• This procedural sequence caused critical delays in neutralising highly volatile material.

Procedural and Structural Bottlenecks

• Current system requires:

  • Forensic testing first

  • Then court approval

  • Only thereafter safe destruction

• In cases involving large quantities of unstable explosives, this creates:

  • Time lag

  • Heightened risk to personnel and civilians

• Officials cited earlier incidents where proactive coordination with bomb disposal squads enabled safer outcomes.

Risk Factors Highlighted

• Ammonium nitrate:

  • Highly unstable in bulk

  • Sensitive to contamination, heat, and poor ventilation

• Concentrated storage of explosives in:

  • Police stations

  • Urban areas

• Significantly increases casualty risk in case of accidental detonation.

Internal Security Implications

• The incident underscores:

  • Vulnerabilities in post-seizure explosive management

  • Need for faster legal and forensic pathways in high-risk cases

• Raises questions about:

  • Adequacy of existing SOPs

  • Balance between evidentiary requirements and public safety

Governance & Policing Lessons

• Highlights the need for:

  • Emergency protocols for immediate neutralisation of volatile substances

  • Clear guidelines allowing conditional destruction after sampling

  • Dedicated off-site explosive storage or disposal facilities

• Emphasises coordination between:

  • Police

  • Forensic agencies

  • Judiciary

  • Bomb disposal units

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

GS 3 – Internal Security

• Terror logistics and explosive handling

• Policing challenges in counter-terror operations

• Risk management in internal security infrastructure

GS 3 – Science & Technology

• Properties of explosive chemicals

• Role of forensic science in criminal justice

Prelims Focus:

• Ammonium nitrate and its risks

• Meaning of malkhana

• SOPs in seizure and destruction of explosives

Mains Enrichment:

• Examine how procedural delays can undermine internal security and public safety.

• Discuss reforms needed to balance legal due process with rapid risk mitigation in terror-related cases.