National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary narrowly escaped unhurt in an attempted firing outside a wedding hall on Wednesday evening (March 11), officials said.
The attack took place in Jammu’s Greater Kailash locality when Abdullah and Choudhary were leaving a wedding.
Abdullah and Choudhary came to greet party leader BS Chouhan on the occasion of his son’s wedding.
Accused Kamal Singh Jamwal, a 70-year-old resident of Purani Mandi, was allegedly waiting outside the venue and tried to open fire on Abdullah.
According to officials, two police officers – an inspector and a sub-inspector – overpowered the assailant, but it took one shot before he was disarmed and taken into custody.
Status of the accused
Authorities said Jamwal was allegedly drunk at the time of the attack. He has been detained for questioning and further investigations are underway.
No casualties are reported
No injuries were reported in the incident. Officials confirmed that the security team acted quickly and prevented any harm to political leaders or onlookers.
Omar Abdullah confirmed the assassination attempt on his father
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has confirmed the assassination attempt on his father outside a wedding hall in the Greater Kailash locality of Jammu. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Omar described the incident as a “very close shave” and praised the quick action of security personnel.
Omar Abdullah wrote: “Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. Details are sketchy at this point, but it is known that a man with a loaded gun was able to get within range and fire a shot. The shot was only deflected by the close protection team and ensured that the assassination attempt failed.”
He noted that the incident has raised serious questions about the security arrangements, especially as to how the assailant could get so close to the former chief minister who was protected by the Z+ National Security Guard.
Deputy CM raises security concerns
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary expressed concern over the security lapse at the event.
“It is a very serious security lapse. When a former chief minister, deputy minister and adviser are present at an event and if a person with a gun can enter, then you can imagine what the security arrangements were,” he told reporters.
