Nowgam’s Terror Nexus: Blast Exposes Deep-Rooted Militant Activity

An accidental explosion at the Nowgam Police Station, claiming nine lives and injuring 27 personnel, has underscored the region’s enduring history of terror activity and its connection to a sophisticated network recently brought to light. The blast occurred on November 14 while officials were examining 2,900 kg of explosive chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, seized from a ‘white-collar’ terror module. While the Ministry of Home Affairs and Jammu and Kashmir Police have stated it was an accidental detonation, the severity of the blast and an official probe ordered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha indicate that a comprehensive understanding of the incident is paramount. The explosion devastated the police station and nearby areas within a 5 km radius, leading to ongoing security operations to manage scattered explosive materials. The renewed security focus on Nowgam commenced in mid-October following the unravelling of a terror network that included doctors and imams with alleged ties to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. For over three decades, Nowgam has functioned as a critical strategic link, facilitating the movement of terrorists and their logistics between South Kashmir, a known epicenter of militant activity, and Srinagar. Experts characterize it as an essential transit corridor. Its location in South Srinagar connects it to volatile districts like Pulwama and Shopian, historically significant for terror recruitment and movement. The area’s semi-urban environment has historically allowed militants to blend in, plan operations, and access Srinagar via southern routes. Security forces have previously conducted successful operations in Nowgam, notably neutralizing LeT commander Naveed Jatt. The area has also been the site of past terror attacks, including a deadly 2005 car bombing by Jaish-e-Mohammed. The geography of Nowgam, with its intricate network of lanes and its proximity to the National Highway, has historically posed security challenges, providing militants with escape routes and increasing vulnerability for security convoys.