Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, narrowly escaped a shooting attempt during a wedding function in Jammu.
According to police, a man identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal allegedly fired a shot at Abdullah while he was attending the private event. The bullet missed the veteran politician and no one was injured in the incident.
Security personnel and people present at the venue quickly caught the attacker and handed him over to the police. Authorities also recovered a licensed pistol that was reportedly used in the attack.
During questioning, the accused allegedly told investigators that he had wanted to kill Abdullah for nearly 20 years and had been waiting for the right moment. Police said the suspect claimed he had personal reasons behind the attempt.
At the time of the incident, Abdullah was accompanied by several leaders and guests attending the wedding ceremony. Among them was Surinder Choudhary, the deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Both leaders were unharmed.
Officials said an investigation has been launched to determine the full motive behind the attack. Police are also trying to find out whether the accused acted alone or if others were involved.
The incident has raised questions about security arrangements at events attended by high-profile leaders. Abdullah is provided Z-plus security, one of the highest levels of protection given to public figures in India.
Authorities are now reviewing how the attacker was able to get close enough to fire a shot at the leader during the gathering.
Political leaders from different parties expressed relief that Abdullah was not injured in the incident. Security agencies have also said they will examine existing safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
