At least 15 civilians, including three Sikhs at a Gurdwara, were killed and 43 injured in heavy artillery shelling by the Pakistan Army across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Tangdhar since Tuesday night, defence sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The shelling hit several homes, sparked panic in border villages, and severely damaged civilian infrastructure. “Windows shattered, walls cracked, and entire families had to flee in the dark,” said a local resident from Poonch.
The attack came just hours after India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military operation targeting “nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians”.
Rajnath Singh: ‘Our Forces Showed Precision and Humanity’
Speaking at an event on Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Indian Armed Forces for their swift and precise strikes.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our armed forces have made us proud,” Singh said. “They demolished the targets with alertness, precision, and humanity—ensuring civilian lives weren’t harmed.”
Gurdwara Attacked, Sikh Leaders Condemn Shelling
A sacred Gurdwara, Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch, was struck during the shelling, killing Amrik Singh Ji (Raagi), Bhai Amarjeet Singh, and Ranjit Singh.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the attack, calling it “inhuman.” He demanded compensation for the families and added: “The Sikhs have always been the sword arm of the country. If our honour is challenged, we need no reminder to fulfill our patriotic duties.”
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also expressed grief: “Where prayers are offered for all, such an attack is highly condemnable. Our prayers are with the families.”
India’s Response: ‘Measured and Responsible’
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the Pahalgam attack was marked by “extreme barbarity,” with many victims shot in front of family members.
He said India’s action was aimed at deterring further terror attacks. “Our strikes were precise, proportional, and non-escalatory,” Misri said.
Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh confirmed that nine terror sites were destroyed. “We selected the targets carefully to avoid civilian harm,” she said.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi showed video evidence of the strikes during a press briefing.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held an emergency meeting to assess the situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.
