Jammu, Mar 12: A court here on Thursday remanded a man who allegedly made an assassination attempt on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to five-day police custody for questioning.

The 63-year-old accused, Kamal Singh Jamwal, was produced in the city court amid tight security.

Police sought his custody stating that further interrogation was necessary to ascertain the motive behind the attack and to verify whether the accused had any links with any organisation or individual.

The court, after hearing both sides, allowed five days’ police remand and also asked the police to ensure proper medical checkup of the accused every 24 hours.

Earlier, Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi, was taken to hospital where he underwent medical checkup.

“I have not done this at the behest of anyone. I have fired at him,” he told reporters.

Abdullah had a narrow escape on Wednesday night when the accused allegedly opened fire at him from behind while he was leaving a marriage function at Greater Kailash on the outskirts of Jammu.

Jammu, Mar 12: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Thursday staged a protest march in Jammu against the attack on its president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, demanding a thorough probe into the incident and “restoration of law and order”.

Abdullah (88) had a narrow escape 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 he had been waiting for an opportunity to target Abdullah for the past 20 years.

Carrying NC flags and placards reading “Restore law and order” and “Probe the firing incident”, hundreds of workers and leaders began their protest march from the party headquarters, Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, in Jammu.

Raising slogans such as “We want justice” and “Farooq Abdullah zindabad”, the protesters marched towards the city centre. The police stopped them at Raghunath Bazaar, leading to a brief jostling as security personnel prevented them from moving ahead.

Some protesters, however, managed to move towards City Chowk, where they staged a brief dharna before dispersing.

Talking to reporters, former minister and senior NC leader Ajay Sadhotra termed the incident a “major security lapse”.

“They had gone to attend the wedding. Dr Sahib, the deputy chief minister and other senior leaders were present, but there was not even a single security person at the venue. How could a person carrying a weapon enter the premises if proper checking was being conducted?” he said.

Sadhotra said that the situation could have turned into a “major tragedy” if the personal security staff with Abdullah had not intervened in time. “The attacker took out the pistol, but the security personnel behind Dr Abdullah immediately pulled him back and the shot went into the air,” he said.

He demanded that law and order be placed under the control of the chief minister so that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir improves.

NC’s provincial president, Jammu region, Ratan Lal Gupta also condemned the attack, saying it raised serious concerns about the safety of political leaders. “If a leader like Farooq Sahib is not safe, then what will happen to ordinary people? He has always advocated Hindu-Muslim unity and communal harmony,” Gupta said.

NC women’s wing leader Bilma Luthra said the protest was meant to highlight concerns over “deteriorating” law and order. “The purpose of our protest is that law and order should be strengthened and placed under Omar Sahib so that people can live in a safe environment,” she said.

Jammu, Mar 12: Around 2 kg of heroin worth Rs 12 crore “dropped” by a Pakistani drone was recovered near the International Border here, officials said on Thursday.

The recovery was made by Jammu Police and 101 Battalion BSF from an agricultural land in Bahadurpura village in the Bishnah area late Wednesday night, they said.

“Acting on the inputs regarding a suspicious drone dropping, a search operation was launched, leading to the recovery of a bag attached with a rope and hook containing small packets of heroin,” police said.

Police termed the recovery as a significant achievement on the anti-drug trafficking front and said the area is just a few kilometres from the International border.

The recovered packets contain around 2 kg of heroin worth Rs 12 crore in the international market, they said.

A case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Bishnah police station, and further investigation is underway to trace the backward and forward linkages.

The police urged citizens to come forward with any information regarding illegal drug activities in their localities, including those residing near the International Border.

Jammu, Mar 12: Police have initiated a detailed probe into the antecedents of Kamal Singh Jamwal, the man who allegedly attempted to assassinate former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah at a marriage function here, officials said on Thursday.

Police are examining the 63-year-old Jamwal’s background, including his personal, social and possible organisational links, to ascertain the motive behind the firing incident, they said.

Abdullah, the president of the National Conference, had a narrow escape when the accused allegedly fired at him from behind as he was leaving the marriage function at Greater Kailash on the outskirts of Jammu on Wednesday night.

Security personnel deployed with Abdullah immediately swung into action and thwarted the assassination attempt. A licensed pistol allegedly used in the crime was recovered from Jamwal’s possession.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, were also accompanying the NC chief when the incident occurred.

Jamwal, a resident of Purani Mandi in Jammu, reportedly told police that he had been waiting for an opportunity to target Abdullah for the last 20 years. Officials said police are also examining his recent activities and movements before the attack.

Senior police officers are currently questioning Jamwal, who told investigators that he earns his livelihood from rent generated by his shops.

Officials said security arrangements at the venue are being reviewed to determine how the accused managed to enter the function with a weapon.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal has condemned the attack on Abdullah, saying “such acts of violence are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic and civilised society.”

“Since the accused has been arrested, the authorities must ensure a thorough and transparent investigation so that the complete facts behind the attack come to light and strict action is taken in accordance with the law,” Sirwal said.