A 26-year-old was shot dead when he stormed the highly fortified residence of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah in the posh Batindi area in Jammu division on Saturday.
Syeed Murfad Shah, the son of a guns dealer from Poonch, rammed his SUV into the gates of Abdullah's bungalow before barging to the lobby. Abdullah, who is the sitting MP from Srinagar, and his son Omar, also a former chief minister, were not at home when the incident occurred at 10 am. Abdullah is one of the most protected leaders of the country and enjoys Z++ security and with Black Cat commando cover.
Murfad had a scuffle with security officials and an assistant sub-inspector was injured, says police.
Inside the lobby, he smashed glass panes and vandalized furniture before being shot dead by CRPF (Central Reserve Police Forces) officers.
Shah's family rejected the police version of the incident and demanded investigation into the incident. "We want that CCTV footage be made public," said one of his cousins. "If what the police claim is true, we will accept it. But if it is not, then they should bring the jawan who shot him before us." Originally from Gulthata village of Mendhar in the border district of Poonch, Shah's family currently lives in Jammu city.
"A person, driving an XUV, drove into the residence of former chief minister Farooq Abdullah," said Dr Shesh Paul Vaid, DGP, Jammu and Kashmir, "He pushed aside the CRPF men forcibly and tried to enter the house. He smashed the windows, and when he did not stop, the CRPF men stationed inside opened fire, and he was killed."
IGP (Jammu Zone) SDS Jamwal said Shah was unarmed and there seems to be no terror angle to the incident. "The motive is not clear," he said. Ashish Kumar Jha, CRPF spokesman at Jammu, said Shah tried to snatch a jawan's weapon.
NC too demanded an investigation by National Investigating Agency (NIA). "Police should put the story before the people. They owe an answer to Farooq Sahab and National Conference. If police will not reveal the details, they will lose our trust," said Mustafa Kamal, NC's additional general secretary.
Omar said details are awaited as security personnel carry out anti-sabotage checks and ascertains Shah's background. "Details are sketchy at the moment," he tweeted.
