“God saved me,” says Farooq Abdullah after surviving gun attack in Jammu

Jammu, 12-03-2026: National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday described his escape from a gun attack in Jammu as an act of divine grace, saying, “God saved me,” in his first public reaction after the late night incident that has triggered serious concern over the security of high-profile protectees in the Union Territory. Reports said Abdullah was targeted while leaving a marriage function in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu, where a man allegedly managed to get dangerously close before opening fire.

Recounting the tense moments after the attack, Abdullah said the assailant had come right up behind him and that he was saved only because security personnel, including members of his protection detail, reacted in time. He said he was immediately rushed into his vehicle and taken away safely. Officials and multiple reports said the alleged attacker was quickly overpowered and taken into custody after a shot was fired at point blank range. Abdullah was not injured in the incident.

The attack has raised troubling questions about how an armed man was able to breach such close proximity to a leader protected under the Z plus NSG security cover. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also voiced concern, saying the available details suggested that a man with a loaded pistol was able to come within point blank range and discharge a shot, and that only the alertness of the close protection team ensured the attempt failed. He said several serious questions now need answers, especially regarding the apparent security lapse.

According to reports quoting officials, the accused has been identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal. Police are investigating the sequence of events and the possible motive behind the attack. Some reports said the accused used a licensed weapon and that officials have, at this stage, ruled out a terror angle. Reports also said the man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

The incident has sent shockwaves through political and security circles in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly because it occurred despite a high security environment around Abdullah. Reports said top officials have begun reviewing the protection arrangements of central protectees in the Union Territory, and additional measures are being examined to further tighten security protocols. The focus is now on how the attacker got so close, whether access control failed at the venue, and what corrective steps are required to prevent a recurrence.