In a dramatic security breach, veteran politician and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah survived an apparent assassination attempt when a gunman fired at him from close range during a wedding function in Jammu on Wednesday evening.
The assailant, identified as 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Jammu’s Purani Mandi area, approached the Z+ category protectee at point-blank distance and discharged a single shot from his personally licensed pistol. The bullet missed its mark, thanks to swift intervention by National Security Guard (NSG) commandos assigned to Abdullah’s detail, who deflected the firearm and overpowered the attacker immediately.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage captured the tense moments as Jamwal, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, was subdued amid chaos at the venue. He was initially roughed up by attendees before police took him into custody. The weapon involved has since been recovered.
During interrogation, Jamwal displayed no regret, confessing to authorities that he had harbored intentions to kill Abdullah for the past 20 years. He described the act as driven by a “personal agenda,” according to police sources cited in reports. The accused further identified himself as the chairman of a little-known group called ‘Jagran Manch’ and stated that he sustained himself through rental income from three shops he owns.
The incident unfolded at the wedding of a party leader’s daughter, where Abdullah was present alongside Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Nasir Sogami, an advisor to the Chief Minister. Sogami described the episode as a clear attempt on Abdullah’s life, expressing gratitude that no one was hurt and noting that the motive remained unclear at the time, along with questions about any potential security lapses.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Farooq’s son, reacted on social media platform X, attributing his father’s survival to divine intervention and the alertness of the close protection team. He highlighted the concerning fact that an armed individual managed to get within firing range of a high-profile, heavily guarded former chief minister, raising multiple unanswered questions about the security arrangements.
The episode has spotlighted vulnerabilities in protection protocols for prominent figures in the region, even as investigations continue into Jamwal’s background and the precise reasons behind his long-nurtured grudge
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