Farooq Abdullah, the 88-year-old former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a wedding party in Jammu on Wednesday night, according to police and his family. The incident occurred as the event was concluding, with the politician surrounded by his personal security detail.
CCTV footage shows a man walking with Abdullah's entourage, pulling out a handgun and pointing it at the politician from behind. Security personnel quickly tackled and subdued the assailant, but a shot was discharged. Abdullah escaped without injury.
Police have detained a 63-year-old local resident, Kamal Singh Jamwal, who reportedly confessed to the attack, citing a 'personal agenda'. He allegedly said he had wanted to kill Abdullah for 20 years and that the weapon was legally owned. Authorities noted he appeared intoxicated and found no evidence linking the attack to terrorism.
Omar Abdullah, the current chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Farooq's son, said on X: 'Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave... It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot.' He raised concerns about how someone could get so close to a high-security figure.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who was also at the wedding, called the incident a 'major security lapse'. Political leaders across the spectrum condemned the attack, with Mehbooba Mufti and others expressing relief that Abdullah was safe.
Investigations are ongoing. Abdullah, a three-time chief minister and president of the National Conference party, has been a prominent figure in Kashmiri politics for decades. He was placed under house arrest in 2019 when the central government revoked the region's special status.
