Intruder scales wall of Omar Abdullah's Jammu residence, held by SSG

A 21-year-old man was apprehended on Friday after he allegedly trespassed into the official residence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu. The incident occurred in broad daylight at the CM's office on Wazarat Road. Abdullah was in Delhi at the time, meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss matters including the restoration of statehood for J&K and the transaction of business between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor.

According to a preliminary assessment, the accused, a resident of Reasi, is a drug addict and does not have any terror links. Officials stated that he did not enter the residence with any ill intent. The man was detained by personnel of the Special Security Group (SSG), the specialised force tasked with protecting the serving chief minister and his immediate family. He was later handed over to the Gujjar Nagar police post for further questioning.

Details of the incident reveal that the man and a friend arrived in Jammu on August 3. The same evening, a police party from the Gujjar Nagar police post found him roaming in an inebriated state and booked him under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. His parents were informed and arrived the next day. As the offence is bailable, police were preparing to release him.

Before the family could leave, the police in-charge asked the father to arrange a local surety. While the father went to find a contact, the man climbed a hillock adjacent to the police post and entered the CM's residence by scaling its rear wall. His movement was quickly detected by SSG personnel. The man told police he fled fearing his father might not return. He was booked on charges of trespass and later released on bail.

The breach is significant given recurring allegations by National Conference leaders about a lack of security for Omar Abdullah and his father, Dr Farooq Abdullah. The former CM, a Z-Plus protectee, survived an assassination attempt in March at a marriage function in Jammu.