Jammu, Mar 12: A gunshot was fired at former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday night, but he narrowly escaped unhurt, officials said. The incident occurred while Abdullah was attending a wedding in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu. Police have taken the suspect into custody, and an investigation is underway.
A video circulating on social media appears to show the assailant approaching Abdullah from behind and firing a shot near his ear. No injuries were reported.
“Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave,” J&K Chief Minister and Farooq’s son Omar Abdullah posted on X. “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 the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers, including how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG-protected former CM.”
J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary described the incident as a major security lapse, noting that “no one from the local police was at the event.” He questioned how a weapon was allowed inside despite the presence of senior officials.
Omar Abdullah’s advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani, said, “Let the investigation get underway; there is a suspect in custody, and thankfully Dr Sahab is completely fine.”
National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq confirmed that Farooq Abdullah, Choudhary, and Wani are “safe and fine.” Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra condemned the attack, calling it “deeply disturbing” and warning of increasing criminalisation and lawlessness in the region.
NC MLA Ajaz Ahmed Jan, who was present at the wedding, described the attack to ANI: “When we were leaving the function, a man came from behind, ran very fast, placed his revolver on the back of Doctor Sahab, and fired, but the shot missed. The security team tackled the suspect and recovered the pistol with great difficulty.”
Police are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attempted attack and the security lapses that allowed the incident to occur.
