Jammu, March 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met his father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah here on Thursday morning, hours after security personnel foiled an assassination attempt on the veteran leader at a wedding function in the city.
Leaders cutting across party lines also gathered at the former chief minister’s residence in Bathindi here to enquire about his well-being and demanded a thorough probe into the incident.
Abdullah had a narrow escape when a gunman opened fire at him from behind while he was leaving the function at Greater Kailash on the outskirts of Jammu on Wednesday night.
The CM drove straight to the NC chief’s residence after arriving in Jammu from Delhi this morning. He spent nearly an hour with his father, who received a stream of visitors, including leaders from the BJP, the Congress and social activists.
Omar’s sons — Zamir and Zahir — also reached Bhatindi from Srinagar to meet their grandfather.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who visited Abdullah, said CCTV camera footage clearly showed the accused pointing a gun at the NC president, rejecting speculation that firing was part of celebratory fire.
He said timely action of security personnel prevented a tragedy and demanded a thorough probe into the incident, asserting that an attack on such a highly protected leader raises serious security concerns.
Among those who visited Abdullah were ministers Sakina Itoo and Javaid Dar, along with senior functionaries and workers of the party, who condemned the incident and termed it a matter of serious concern.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa also visited Abdullah and termed the incident “deplorable and unfortunate” and said Jammu has always been peace-loving.
“Such incidents have no place in Jammu. Even at the peak of militancy, Jammu maintained its communal harmony,” he told reporters after meeting Abdullah.
Referring to conflicting statements by the accused, the BJP leader said the motive behind the attack was still unclear.
“We do not know what kind of grudge he has been carrying and what was going on in his mind, or why he did this. The agencies should investigate it and question him.
“He himself is saying that he had been looking for him for 20 years… This is clearly a matter for investigation, and the agencies must probe it,” the BJP MLA said.
Several Congress leaders also met Abdullah to enquire about his well-being.
“Shocked to hear about the grave attack on Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab. Relieved to know that he’s safe and doing well. Hope police gets to the bottom of this very perturbing security lapse,” PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti posted on X.
Meanwhile, NC today held an emergency meeting at the party headquarters to strongly protest and condemn the assassination attempt on party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, terming the incident a “grave and alarming attack” on democratic values.
The meeting was chaired by the party’s General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar and witnessed strong reactions from party leaders, who described the attempt on Dr. Farooq’s life as a dangerous conspiracy that demands an immediate and impartial investigation.
Speakers at the meeting asserted that targeting a senior national leader like Dr. Farooq Abdullah was not merely an attack on an individual but a direct assault on the democratic fabric of the country. They warned that such incidents pose serious questions about security arrangements and urged authorities to identify and punish those responsible without delay.
On the occasion, the party’s Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir moved a resolution condemning the assassination attempt. The resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the participants, called for a comprehensive and transparent probe into the incident, including possible security lapses and negligence, so that the truth behind the conspiracy is brought before the public and similar incidents are prevented in the future.
Later the participants also registered a strong protest and demanded that the truth behind the conspiracy be brought before the public. Meanwhile, party units across district, tehsil and block levels also strongly condemned the assassination attempt on the party president.