Intruder Storms Into Farooq Abdullah's Jammu Home, Shot Dead on Stairs Leading to Bedroom

Jammu: An intruder was shot dead in the lobby of National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah’s Jammu residence on Saturday morning.

As per initial information, the man drove at a high speed and banged his car against the main gate of the Bhatindi residence. He later got down from the vehicle and started ransacking the house before being shot dead, police said.

“The intruder breached the main gate and went inside. He had a scuffle with the duty officers there. A duty officer was also injured. After that, he entered the residence. There has been some damage to the articles there. Subsequently, he was shot dead," SSP Jammu Vivek Gupta told reporters.

Police said the intruder has been identified as Murfaz, a resident of Mendhar in Poonch district. According to a PTI report, his father runs a gun factory at Ban-Talab in Jammu.

“There was an attempt of forceful entry into the house by an individual named Murfas Shah, resident of Poonch. He forced his way through the VIP gate in an SUV. He was unarmed. Investigation is underway," SD Singh Jamwal, IG of Jammu Zone, said.

Speaking to reporters outside Abdullah’s residence, Murfaz’s relative Ijaz Shah questioned how he landed at the former CM’s residence. “He was with me last night. How was he here, why was he shot? Why was he killed? He had left home for gym. How did security men allow him to enter? How is the gate intact if he broke through," Ijaz asked.

Taking to Twitter, Abdullah’s son and former CM Omar Abdullah said he the security men were carrying out “anti-sabotage" checks at the Bathindi house.

“I am aware of the incident that took place at the residence my father & I share in Bhatindi, Jammu. Details are sketchy at the moment. Initial reports suggest an intruder was able to gain entry through the front door & in to the upper lobby of the house," Omar tweeted.

Farooq Abdullah, a sitting Lok Sabha member from Srinagar constituency, is in New Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session.

The incident is being seen as a major breach in the security of Abdullah, a Z-plus category protectee.

Giving details, the witnesses said that after ramming his car against 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.

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 inputs from PTI)