The Incident: Gunshot At Royal Park Wedding Venue

According to officials and eyewitnesses, the incident took place at a marriage ceremony being held at the Royal Park banquet in the Greater Kailash locality of Jammu city. Farooq Abdullah, 88, had arrived at the function along with Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary to greet a National Conference leader on the occasion of his son’s wedding and had spent over an hour interacting with guests before the attack unfolded.

CCTV footage from the venue shows a man walking close to Abdullah’s entourage as the veteran leader prepared to leave, suddenly pulling out a handgun and pointing it at him from behind. Moments later, a shot is fired from what police say was a licensed pistol, but the bullet misses its target as the close protection team and other personnel react in seconds to push the weapon away and overpower the shooter.

Guests at the function said they initially mistook the sound for a firecracker before realising it was a gunshot. Abdullah later said he believed it was a cracker until he saw the commotion, adding that he considered it only “by God’s grace” that he remained unharmed.

Attacker Identified As Kamal Singh Jamwal

Police have identified the attacker as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a man in his early sixties from the Purani Mandi area of Jammu, who was present at the wedding when he allegedly moved towards Abdullah from behind with the weapon in his hand. Officials said the firearm seized from him is a licensed pistol registered in his name, raising serious questions about how he managed to enter the high-security event with the weapon without triggering red flags.

Video clips recorded after the firing show Jamwal seated in a chair, surrounded by policemen and some guests, calmly telling officers that he is a resident of Jammu and that he had been “waiting for this moment for 20 years”. Investigators later confirmed that during questioning he claimed he wanted to kill Farooq Abdullah for two decades and described the act as his “personal agenda”.

Police sources said the accused appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and was thrashed by some people present at the venue before being whisked away by security personnel. He has reportedly told officers that he owns a few shops in the old city area and survives on rent from them.

How Security Team Foiled The Assassination Bid

Officials said personnel from the National Security Guard (NSG) component of Abdullah’s Z-plus category security and the Jammu and Kashmir Police security wing reacted immediately once they saw the weapon being raised. Two officers, an inspector and a sub-inspector, are believed to have lunged at the attacker, deflecting his arm as the shot went off and bringing him down before he could fire again.

“It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot and ensured that the assassination attempt failed,” J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, while thanking the security personnel for their swift response and seeking a thorough review of the arrangements. No injuries were reported in the incident, and both Farooq Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary were escorted to safety soon after the gunman was detained.

What The Attacker Said: ‘Waiting For 20 Years’

During preliminary interrogation, Jamwal reportedly told investigators that he had been harbouring the intention to eliminate Farooq Abdullah for around 20 years, insisting that the decision was driven by a personal grudge rather than an organised conspiracy. Police are, however, treating the case with utmost seriousness and are probing whether he had links to any group, whether anyone encouraged him, and why he chose a crowded public wedding to act.

Eyewitnesses said the accused claimed to be the chairman of a previously unheard “Jagran Manch” and appeared highly agitated when confronted, though officers have not yet confirmed the authenticity or relevance of that assertion. Investigators are also looking into his past activities, financial records and communications to cross-check his statements and establish whether he indeed acted alone.

Key Details At A Glance

Omar Abdullah, Govt Officials Raise Security Lapse Questions

Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described it as a “shocking assassination attempt” and said there were “more questions than answers” regarding how an armed individual got so close to a protectee with Z-plus security and NSG cover. In a post on X, he underlined that the attacker was “asked to get within range” and that only the quick response of the protection team prevented a tragedy.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who was present at the function when the firing took place, expressed relief that no one was hurt but also demanded a detailed examination of security protocols at public events attended by high-profile leaders. Senior officers, including the Inspector General of Police (Jammu zone), reached Gangyal Police Station soon after to question the accused and review the preliminary findings.

Eyewitness Accounts From The Wedding Venue

Rakesh Singh, an eyewitness quoted by agencies, said the attack occurred just as Abdullah and other senior guests were stepping out after dinner, describing a moment of panic as people scrambled for cover before realising security had pinned the gunman down. Several attendees confirmed that the attacker appeared to be intoxicated and was shouting while being held, even as some guests reportedly hit him in anger over the attempted shooting.

Guests also pointed to what they saw as gaps in frisking and access control at the entrance, with some saying that a closer check of visitors carrying bags or wearing jackets might have deterred the attacker earlier. Police have maintained that all such aspects will be examined as part of the investigation and that CCTV footage from multiple angles has been collected for forensic analysis.

Political Fallout And Larger Security Implications

The assassination attempt has triggered strong reactions across political parties in Jammu & Kashmir and at the national level, with leaders condemning the attack and calling for calm. For many in the Union Territory, the incident has revived memories of previous attempts on political figures and raised fresh concerns about the safety of mainstream leaders in a region still navigating complex security dynamics.

Security experts point out that weddings and social gatherings, where leaders mingle freely and metal detectors or layered checks may be relaxed, are often seen as vulnerable spots. The use of a licensed weapon in this case, combined with the attacker’s alleged long-standing grudge, has added another layer to the debate on monitoring of licence holders and periodic review of their background and mental health.