Farooq Abdullah blames ‘deeply rooted hatred’ in India after assassination attempt

The 88-year-old leader, who heads the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, spoke publicly for the first time since a man allegedly fired at him during a private function on the night of Wednesday.

Abdullah said the climate in India had become increasingly hostile, warning that voices advocating communal harmony and secular values were gradually losing space.

Shots fired at wedding venue

The incident occurred at a wedding function held at Royal Park in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu.

According to officials, a local resident identified as Kamal Singh allegedly pointed a pistol at Abdullah and fired two shots during the event.

Abdullah described the tense moment when the gunshots rang out as he was leaving the venue.

He recalled hearing what sounded like a firecracker and feeling a sudden heat near his neck.

Security personnel quickly intervened and restrained the attacker before any serious harm could occur.

Abdullah credited his security staff for acting swiftly and preventing a potentially fatal outcome, adding that he felt fortunate to have survived the attack.

Concerns over security arrangements

While expressing gratitude to his security team, Abdullah also raised questions about the security arrangements at the venue.

He noted that the wedding was attended by several prominent guests, including high-profile political figures.

Despite this, he observed that there appeared to be no significant police deployment at the location.

Although he stopped short of calling it a major security failure, Abdullah suggested that authorities should have taken greater precautions given the tense political atmosphere.

Amit Shah dials Abdullah

Following the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Abdullah to inquire about his well-being.

According to Abdullah, Shah informed him that the suspect had been taken into custody and assured him that updates on the investigation would be shared as the case progressed.

Police officials later confirmed that the firearm used in the attack had been recovered from the accused.

Accused claims personal motive

Investigators identified the suspect as Kamal Singh, a 64-year-old resident of the Purani Mandi area of Jammu.

Authorities said he does not have a criminal record and operates several shops in the old city.

During preliminary questioning, Singh reportedly told investigators that he had personal motives for targeting Abdullah, although he did not disclose further details.

Police sources also indicated that the accused claimed he had been harbouring intentions to harm the veteran politician for many years.

Abdullah responded by saying he had never met or even seen the accused before and had no knowledge of any personal dispute.

Political leaders condemn attack

The attempted assassination triggered widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prominent figures, including Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone, M. Y. Tarigami, Tariq Hameed Karra, Sunil Sharma, Altaf Bukhari and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, condemned the attack and called for a detailed investigation.

Leaders from different political parties described the incident as alarming and stressed the need to safeguard democratic discourse in the region.

National Conference demands high-level probe

Members of the National Conference also convened a meeting at the party headquarters in Srinagar to discuss the incident.

Party leaders and legislators strongly condemned the attack and adopted a joint resolution calling for a high-level probe.

They also urged Amit Shah to personally ensure that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and transparently.