Attack on Farooq Abdullah: Gunman fires at point-blank range at Jammu wedding event; former J&K chief minister survives unhurt as security personnel arrest suspect and police launch investigation.
Attack : Former J&K Chief Minister Escapes Unhurt After Armed Man Opens Fire at Wedding Function; Accused Arrested, Probe Underway
Qalam Times News Network
Srinagar/Jammu | March 12, 2026
Attack on veteran political leader Dr. Farooq Abdullah narrowly failed on Wednesday evening when a gunman fired at him from close range outside a wedding venue in Jammu. The 88-year-old former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir escaped unharmed after security personnel quickly intervened and overpowered the attacker moments after the shot was fired.
According to police officials, the Attack took place when Dr. Abdullah was leaving a marriage function in the Greater Kailash area on the outskirts of Jammu after attending the event for more than an hour. As he stepped out of the wedding pavilion and headed towards his vehicle, a man standing nearby fired a shot from a pistol at extremely close range. The bullet missed the senior leader, and security staff immediately subdued the suspect before he could fire again.
Authorities later identified the accused as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a 63-year-old resident of the Purani Mandi locality in Jammu. Officials confirmed that the weapon used in the incident was a licensed firearm and stated that there was no indication of any terror-related involvement at this stage. The suspect has been taken into custody and a detailed investigation is underway.
Dr. Abdullah, who serves as president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and has previously served five terms as the region’s chief minister, said he initially did not realise that a gun had been fired at him. Speaking about the incident, he recalled hearing a loud sound shortly after leaving the wedding venue.
“I thought it was a firecracker,” he said, explaining that such celebrations are common at weddings. “I felt a hot sensation near me but didn’t understand what had happened. Later they told me a gun had been fired. God saved me.”
Security officials present at the venue reacted swiftly, overpowering the attacker and preventing further harm. The firearm has since been seized by police as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident has raised serious questions about security arrangements, particularly because Dr. Abdullah is protected under Z+ security, one of the highest levels of personal security provided to public figures in India. His son, Omar Abdullah, the current chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed concern about how the assailant managed to get so close to his father despite the heavy protection.
In a social media message, Omar Abdullah said that his father had “a very close shave,” adding that it remained unclear how an armed individual was able to approach a highly protected leader at point-blank range.
The attempted assassination has drawn widespread condemnation across political and religious circles in Jammu and Kashmir. Prominent religious leader and Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly criticised the incident and called it deeply concerning.
Posting his reaction on social media, Mirwaiz said he was relieved that Dr. Abdullah escaped unharmed but stressed that the circumstances surrounding the attack must be thoroughly investigated. He also questioned how a person carrying a loaded weapon managed to approach a high-profile leader so closely.
Police sources revealed that during preliminary questioning, the suspect allegedly claimed he had been harbouring a personal grudge against Dr. Abdullah for nearly two decades and had been waiting for an opportunity to target him. Investigators are now examining the motive behind the claim and verifying the details of his statement.
The firing occurred while several prominent figures were present at the wedding event, including Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and senior National Conference leader Nasir Aslam Wani.
Officials have assured that a comprehensive inquiry will be conducted to determine whether there were any security lapses that allowed the armed individual to approach the veteran politician.
The dramatic incident has triggered renewed debate about the safety of political leaders at public gatherings and the need for stricter security screening at private events attended by high-profile figures.
