Intruder drives into ex-CM Farooq’s house, shot dead

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 4

A 26-year-old man was shot dead after he forcibly drove into the residence of former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar, both Z-Plus protectees, and ransacked the house of the National Conference leaders in Bathindi area on Saturday. 

The deceased has been identified as Murfad Shah, a college student hailing from Mendhar in Poonch district. He was currently residing in Chinore, located on the outskirts of Jammu city. 

The police said the incident occurred between 9.30 am and 9.45 am and the man was unarmed. No arms or ammunition were recovered from his vehicle either, they said.

Jammu SSP Vivek Gupta said Murfad rammed his Mahindra XUV-500 into the front gate of the Abdullahs’ residence, continued to drive recklessly and reached the inner lawn. The father-son duo was not in the house.  

“A CRPF man posted on the gate received minor injuries as Murfad drove in forcibly. He stopped his vehicle in the lawn and got involved in a scuffle with CRPF men, who tried to overpower him. He then ran inside the house and started ransacking the lobby before the CRPF men shot him dead,” the SSP said.

The deceased’s father, Amzad Hussain Shah, said Murfad had left the house around 5.15 am for the gym in Parade area. “I am clueless about why and how he reached Farooq Abdullah’s residence. But even if he had entered the house, why wasn’t he caught alive? Where was the need to just shoot him dead when he was unarmed?” asked Amzad Hussain, who owns Shah Gun House. He raised several questions on the police theory and demanded a probe. 

The deceased’s sister, Shafia, too reached the spot and raised a hue and cry. Unaware that Murfad had died, she threatened to set herself afire if he “succumbed to bullet injuries”. 

The Jammu Deputy Commissioner has ordered a magisterial inquiry. The NC has demanded an NIA probe.