Jammu, March 12: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday spoke to former chief minister Farooq Abdullah following the attack on him at a wedding function and assured him that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Abdullah (88) escaped unhurt in an assassination bid when a gunman opened fire at him from behind while he was leaving a marriage function at Greater Kailash on the outskirts of Jammu on Wednesday night, officials said.
The police arrested the accused, identified as 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi, who reportedly told investigators that he had been waiting for an opportunity to target Abdullah for the past 20 years.
“Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted,” sources said.
They said that DGP Nalin Prabhat was directed to leave no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of the incident and to ensure that action follows swiftly.
Senior officials were instructed to leave no stone unturned in establishing how the assailant managed to reach close proximity to Abdullah, who is a Z-plus category protectee, they said.
Sources also said the police chief has also been asked to review the security arrangements of protected persons across the Union Territory and ensure “airtight security” for political leaders and other protectees.
The assassination bid on Abdullah has been widely condemned. All the parties including the ruling National Conference, PDP, BJP, Apni Party, Congress, AIP, Peoples Conference, CPI(M) have strongly condemned the attack on Abdullah.