Farooq Abdullah, the president of the National Conference party, along with Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Wednesday evening. The incident took place at a wedding venue located in Greater Kailash, Jammu, where a gunman reportedly entered and fired a shot before being subdued. Choudhary described the encounter as a significant security failure, emphasizing the responsibility of law enforcement to investigate how such a breach occurred. “We are both safe but it is now police’s responsibility to say how it happened,” he stated to the media.

Arrest of Suspect and Ongoing Investigation

Authorities identified the gunman as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a local resident from Jammu. Following the incident, he was taken into custody, and police are actively questioning him to determine the motive behind the attack. Choudhary expressed concerns regarding security measures, noting that a former chief minister and a current deputy chief minister were present, yet a person was able to enter armed. “It was a function where a former chief minister, a current deputy CM and the CM’s adviser were present and a person could enter with a gun. You can understand how much security there was,” he remarked.

Reactions from Political Figures

Omar Abdullah, the son of Farooq Abdullah and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, described the incident as a close call for his father. In a post on the platform X, he noted that details surrounding the incident were still emerging. Abdullah stated, “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 and ensured that the assassination attempt failed.” He raised questions about how an individual could approach such a high-profile figure who is under the protection of the National Security Guard with Z+ security.

Witness Account of the Attack

Nasir Aslam Wani, an adviser to Omar Abdullah, provided a witness account of the unfolding events, indicating that the assailant had clear intentions of targeting Farooq Abdullah. “He tried to fire at Farooq sahib from a revolver. I don’t want to draw any conclusions yet. It is by God’s grace that he was saved. He is fine and in good spirits,” Wani shared, emphasizing the narrow escape that the former chief minister experienced. The incident has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of security protocols in place for prominent leaders in the region.

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