Militants shot at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's nephew at his hometown Bejibehara in south Kashmir's Anantnag late on Sunday evening.
Police said Atiqullah, the elder son of Mufti's sister, was critically wounded and rushed to the sub-district hospital at Bejibehara.
Attending doctors, according to latest reports, say they have referred Attiqullah to Srinagar for specialised treatment.
The chief minister is away in Mumbai on a three-day visit. Sources said he was informed about the incident late in the evening by senior police officers.
Police said militants fired several pistol rounds at Attiqullah as he was coming out of a mosque after offering evening prayers.
Late on Sunday night, Attiqullah was brought to Soura Medical Institute for treatment under heavy security.
At the time this report was filed, a team of doctors was operating upon Attiqullah in the institute.
The chief minister is returning to Srinagar on Tuesday after visiting Delhi.