Jammu, Mar 12: “God saved me,” said veteran politician and former Farooq Abdullah in his first reaction after a man allegedly attempted to assassinate him during a marriage function in Jammu on Wednesday night.
The assailant, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, allegedly targeted Abdullah, who is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, during the event in the Greater Kailash area on the outskirts of the city.
Abdullah reportedly had a narrow escape when the gunman opened fire from behind as the veteran leader was leaving the venue.
“I am fine and God has saved me,” Abdullah said on Thursday morning.
Recounting the tense moment, he said the attacker had managed to come very close to him. “At the last moment, he was overpowered by the security personnel, including the National Security Guard (NSG). I was immediately escorted into my car and taken away safely,” he added.
The attack on Abdullah, a Z+ category protectee, has raised serious concerns over the security arrangements in the sensitive Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Under standard protocol for such high-profile figures, the area is expected to be thoroughly sanitised with strict access control.
While the senior Abdullah declined to comment on any possible security lapse, his son and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern in a post on X.
“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 the assassination attempt failed,” he wrote.
He further said that several questions remain unanswered, including how someone managed to get so close to a former chief minister protected by Z+ NSG security.
Following the incident, the chief minister reached Jammu and went directly to his father’s residence.
Top officials have now begun reviewing the security arrangements of all central government protectees in Jammu and Kashmir. Steps are also being considered to further strengthen security, including upgrading jammers used in official convoys. (Agencies)
