Farooq Abdullah Survives Close-Range Shooting at Wedding Function in Jammu
In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Thursday. The event unfolded at a wedding function in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu, where Abdullah was attending as a guest.
"God Saved Me": Abdullah Reflects on Tense Moments
Speaking to reporters after the harrowing experience, Abdullah recounted the moments of panic. "I was walking out of the venue when I heard the sound of a firecracker. Immediately, I was rushed into a car," he said. It was only later that he learned the truth: a man had fired two shots from a pistol, allegedly targeting him. "Neither do I know this man, nor do I have any information about him," Abdullah added, referring to the accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a 63-year-old individual.
Abdullah expressed uncertainty about the assailant's motives, stating, "I don't know what his intention was." He hesitated to label it a security lapse outright, noting, "To say it was a security lapse would be a big statement to make. Many big personalities were present at this wedding, but there was no police present." However, he credited his personal security team and divine grace for his survival. "By Allah's grace, my security was present with me, and my life was saved," he emphasized.
Political Repercussions and Calls for Inquiry
The incident has sparked immediate political reactions and raised serious questions about security protocols. Abdullah revealed that he received a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who inquired about his well-being and assured a thorough investigation. "An inquiry should be done," Abdullah insisted, linking the attack to broader societal issues. "Such things keep happening when there is a situation of hatred now.... No religion teaches hatred, but only to love..."
Reflecting on the changed political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370, which transformed the state into a Union Territory, Abdullah urged cooperation. "The Central and the UT govt should see if the situation here is really improved. We might have differences of opinion, but we have to work together as we are a democracy and voice our opinions..." He reiterated his demand for the restoration of full statehood, arguing, "An elected govt doesn't have powers—how can it continue this way? We were promised that statehood would be restored..."
Security Concerns and Family Response
Abdullah highlighted the persistent threat of terrorism, stating, "No matter how much security you increase, the killer always has an advantage. The problem is that we live in an era where terrorism is up in the sky, and we cannot control it." This was his first public reaction after the shooting, which was quickly brought under control by his security personnel, as seen in CCTV footage from the venue.
Officials confirmed that Abdullah was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary at the time. The suspect was overpowered and detained on the spot, preventing any harm to the leaders.
In a social media post, Abdullah's son and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah described the incident as a "very close shave" and raised alarming questions about security failures. "Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. 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 & discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed," he wrote on X.
Omar Abdullah further questioned, "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+ NSG protected former CM." This incident underscores the volatile security environment in the region and has ignited debates over political stability and safety measures for public figures.
