| Dr Farooq survived assassination attempt: CM Omar | | 'Close protection team deflected gun shot, saved NC President' |    |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 11: An assassination attempt on a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah was foiled after the close protection team successfully deflected a shot fired at close range by an armed individual, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday.
CM Omar wrote on X: "My father had a very close shave after a man carrying a loaded pistol managed to reach point-blank range and fire a shot. However, the alertness and swift action of the security personnel prevented the attack from succeeding."
"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. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot and ensured that the assassination attempt failed," CM Omar said.
He also raised serious questions about the security lapse that allowed the attacker to come so close to a high-profile protectee who is guarded under the Z+ security cover provided by the National Security Guard (NSG).
"There are more questions than answers at the moment, including how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG-protected former Chief Minister," he said.
"Thankfully both the Dy CM & Nasir Sogami who were accompanying my father at the time are also safe and sound. The almighty shielded them," the Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, a Srinagar based news agency quoting officials reported that panic broke out during a wedding function near Royal Park in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu on Wednesday after a man opened fire.
The function was attended by National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and several political leaders.
An official said that the man, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, was intoxicated when he opened the fire. He was soon overpowered by people present at the scene and handed over to the police.
He said that no one has suffered injuries in the incident, while the man has been taken into custody with further probe into the incident underway.
J&K Chief Minister's Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters that the man attempted to kill Farooq Abdullah by opening fire from his revolver. "Almighty saved Farooq Sahab and no one was injured in the incident. The man has been taken into custody and it is too early to comment as to why he attempted to kill Farooq Sahab," he said.
He added that the Police are investigating the matter, while Farooq Abdullah is unhurt and is in "good spirits".
Meanwhile, speaking with reporters outside the wedding venue, the Deputy Chief Minister termed it as a major security lapse, saying that no police personnel or security official was present there at the time of the incident.
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