‘Wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for 20 years’: Jammu wedding shooter reveals motive

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had a narrow escape after a man opened fire at him during a wedding function in Jammu on Wednesday night. Police have arrested the accused, who claimed he had been planning the attack for the past 20 years.

Gunman fired at point-blank range

The incident occurred in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu when Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were leaving a marriage function.

CCTV footage from the venue shows the gunman approaching Abdullah from behind and firing a shot from very close range. The bullet missed the target, and security personnel immediately overpowered the attacker before he could fire again.

Accused claims long-standing motive

The shooter has been identified as 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu.

During questioning, Jamwal told police that he had been waiting for an opportunity to attack the National Conference chief for nearly two decades.

“I wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for the past 20 years. It was my personal agenda. The weapon is my own, issued to me,” the accused reportedly told investigators.

Police said the pistol used in the attack was a licensed firearm belonging to the accused.

Police rule out terror angle

Investigators said the accused appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Police also ruled out any terror angle in the case.

Officials said Jamwal, who owns several shops in the old part of Jammu, survives on rental income from his properties.

After the firing, he was immediately detained by Abdullah’s security personnel and later taken into custody by the police. The weapon used in the attack was also seized.

Deputy Chief Minister also present

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary was present at the wedding venue during the incident and also narrowly escaped the firing.

According to officials, Abdullah and other National Conference leaders had attended the wedding of a party leader’s family member and had been at the venue for more than an hour before the incident took place.

Eyewitness recounts the incident

Eyewitness Rakesh Singh said the attack happened as Abdullah and other guests were leaving the function.

“He had dinner with the guests and was moving out when the gunman opened fire. Luckily, the shot missed,” Singh said.

He added that the accused appeared intoxicated and claimed to be the chairman of an unknown organisation called “Jagran Manch”.

Omar Abdullah reacts

Reacting to the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his father narrowly escaped the assassination attempt because of the quick response of his security team.

“Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point-blank range and discharge a shot,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X.

He added that it was the close protection team that deflected the shot and prevented the attack from succeeding.

Security lapse questioned

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary described the incident as a serious security lapse.

“It is a very serious security lapse. When a former Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and an advisor are present at a function, and if a person can enter with a gun, then you can imagine what the security arrangements were like,” he said.

Police said a detailed investigation is underway to determine how the accused managed to get close to a Z+ security protected leader and carry out the attack attempt.