Farooq Abdullah survives assassination attempt at point-blank range

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar/Jammu, Mar 12, 2026: J&K National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, who was attending a marriage ceremony on Wednesday evening, survived an "assassination attempt" in Jammu after an attacker tried to shoot him at point-blank range.

The attacker was just a few steps behind the J&K leader, his arm in line with his shoulder, did fire a gun shot, but the National Security Guard (NDG) commandos pushed him. The shot missed the target and Abdullah had a narrow escape, showed a dramatic video.

The attacker, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, was immediately taken into custody. Videos from the scene showed people thrashing him soon after he was caught.

After his arrest, the attacker is seen sitting on a chair, telling police he’s a resident of Puranas Mandi in Jammu. The 65-year-old attacker appeared to have no remorse and has reportedly said that he was waiting for this moment for last 20 years.

"An attempt was made on the life of Farooq Abdullah when he was attending a marriage ceremony at the Royal Park in Greater Kailash, Jammu," police said in a statement.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called it an "assassination attempt" on his 88-year-old Z+ security protected father.

"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 & discharge a shot," Junior Abdullah said in a post on X.

"It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers at the moment including but not limited to how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG protected former CM," he added.

Senior Abdullah was accompanied by J&K deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary and Nasir Sogami, advisor to the J&K Chief Minister.

Nasir Sogami said that it was an attempt to kill Farooq Abdullah but God was kind that no one injured in firing.

He said they don’t know the motive behind assassination attempt and whether it was a security lapse.

"Right now we can’t draw any conclusions. God was so kind that we are safe. Farooq Abdullah is safe," said Sogami.