SRINAGAR: In what could be termed a major security breach, a man forcibly drove into the residence of National Conference president and three-time Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and began ransacking the house in Jammu on Saturday. He was soon shot dead by CRPF personnel.
After ramming his car into the main gate, the man got in and began ransacking the rooms and damaging everything he came across, IGP Jammu S D Singh told TNIE.“We have not recovered anything incriminating from his possession.” Prescriptions for psychotropic drugs were found in the man’s car and the police were investigating whether he was mentally unsound or inebriated.
The deceased was identified as Murad Ali Shah of Mendhar, Poonch. His father runs a gun factory in Jammu.
Abdullah, who has Z-plus security cover, was not at home during the incident as he was in New Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session.
The incident happened this morning at Bhatindi in the outskirts of the Jammu city when the intruder, identified as Syeed Murfad Shah, who would have turned 26 next month, rammed his XUV into the front gate of the former chief minister's house and continued to drive recklessly and reached the inner garden, according to witnesses.
Director General of Police S P Vaid said a case has been registered and an enquiry is being conducted into the breach of security.
"We are looking into the case and trying to ascertain the motive," he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) said the man had made a forcible entry and refused to stop despite repeated warnings.
One policeman was also injured in the scuffle, he said.
Reacting to the incident, Abdullah told PTI, "It is very unfortunate that such an incident has happened and speaks volumes about the security situation in the state. Police must investigate the motive of the youth."
Police said Shah hails from Gulthata village of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district of Jammu region.
The family is at present settled at Chinnor in Jammu and his father runs a gun shop at Bantalab in Jammu.
His relatives told reporters that he had gone to attend his gym in the morning and they were not quite sure how he had reached the residence of Abdullah's.
"Why was he not arrested. He was not carrying any weapon or explosives on him," on of them said.
Asked whether he was taking any drugs, the relatives shot back "he used to go the gym in morning and evening. Ask them?" Giving details, the eyewitnesses said that after ramming his car into the iron gate, the intruder continued to drive within the compound till he reached the house where Abdullah and his son Omar stay.
He stopped at the inner lawns, supposed to be highly secured, and got down from the vehicle and entered into the main lobby where he ransacked the glass table and pictures hanging from the walls and started climbing the stairs leading to the bedroom, police said.
By this time, CRPF personnel guarding the residence of the National Conference leaders, got into action and challenged the intruder who continued ransacking everything that came his way.
He was finally shot dead, police said, adding a case has been registered and efforts were on to trace his father.
An enquiry has been ordered to ascertain how the intruder managed to reach into the house without being challenged.
The house of the Abdullah's is guarded by the CRPF in Jammu and the BSF in Srinagar.
(With PTI inputs)