Jammu, J&K (India): The President of the National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, survived an alleged assassination attempt at a marriage party in Jammu’s Greater Kailash.
“An attempt was made on the life of former Chief Minister and President of the J&K National Conference, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, when he was attending a marriage ceremony at Royal Park, Greater Kailash, Jammu,” the preliminary investigation by the Jammu Police revealed.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Police Station Gangyal last night when the former Chief Minister, Dr. Abdullah, along with his two party colleagues, including Deputy Chief Minister of the J&K Government Surinder Choudhary and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, were attending a marriage party at Royal Park in Jammu.
As per the initial reports, the alleged assailant was seen pulling out a pistol while approaching Dr. Farooq Abdullah from behind when the leaders were leaving the marriage function. However, security wing personnel immediately overpowered the attacker, thwarting the attempt. The assailant was disarmed and handed over to the local police.
Later, the accused was taken into custody and shifted to the police station for investigation. The arrested person has been identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal (63), son of late Ajit Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in the Old City area of Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
ACCUSED SAYS HE WANTED TO KILL FAROOQ ABDULLAH FOR 20 YEARS
“I wanted to assassinate Farooq Abdullah for the last 20 years. Today I got an opportunity, but he survived,” he told police during the preliminary investigation. However, he did not cite any reason for the attempted assassination. The weapon used was a licensed revolver/pistol. He reportedly earns his livelihood by renting out two or three shops.
The accused claimed that he had been invited to the marriage party of his cousin’s son, where he made the assassination attempt, which failed.
Police have seized the firearm used in the crime from the possession of the accused. Further investigation is underway.
ALLAH IS KIND, SAYS CM OMAR ABDULLAH
“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 and discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that ensured 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+ NSG-protected former CM,” reacted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the incident.
While leaving the spot, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary raised concerns over the security arrangements.
