Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah had a close shave when a 63-yr-old man made an attempt to claim his life by firing at him during a wedding ceremony here at Royal Parks Banquet Hall in Greater Kailash area.
Dr. Abdullah along with J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Adviser to J&K CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Sports Minister Satish Sharma and other political leaders were attending a marriage function on Wednesday night when an accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, 63, a resident of Purani Mandi, tried to kill Dr Abdullah from his licensed revolver.
Security staff accompanying Dr Abdullah averted the attack and overpowered him, took away his weapon and removed bullets before handing him over to the police.
Jammu and Kashmir Police in an official statement issued late last night said, “an attempt was made on the life of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, former CM and President of J&K National Conference, when he was attending a marriage ceremony at Royal Park Greater Kailash, Jammu.”
“The security personnel of JKP and NSG, who were deployed with the protectee, immediately swung into action and thwarted the attempt,” said police.
They said that further, the accused, who was later identified as Kamal Singh of Purani Mandi, Jammu, was taken into custody, while the firearm used in the crime has also been recovered from the possession of the accused.
Cognisance has been taken, and further investigation is going on, police added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as well as Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary, raised questions over security lapses leading to a man with a loaded pistol reaching close to NSG protected former Chief Minister.
“Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on X.
He said the details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get “within point blank range” and discharge a shot.
“It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers at the moment including but not limited to how someone was able to get this close to a Z plus NSG protected former CM,” the Chief Minister said.
He further wrote on X, “Thankfully both the Deputy CM and Nasir Sogami, who were accompanying my father at the time, are also safe and sound. The almighty shielded them.”
Meanwhile, the accused, who was in an inebriated condition when interrogated by the police, said that he wanted to kill Dr Farooq Abdullah for the last 20 years.
