At least 15 civilians were killed and 43 others injured following intense artillery shelling and unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Tangdhar regions late Tuesday night, according to the Indian Army.
The escalation came just hours after India launched Operation Sindoor, a coordinated 25-minute strike beginning at 1:05 a.m., targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The camps were reportedly linked to three major terrorist groups: Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Indian Defence sources told India Today TV that the military retaliated swiftly to the cross-border shelling, inflicting heavy damage on multiple Pakistani Army posts in the Kupwara and Rajouri-Poonch sectors. Initial reports suggest significant Pakistani military casualties.
Among the Indian fatalities were three Gursikhs who were killed when Pakistani shelling struck the central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal identified the victims as Bhai Amrik Singh Ji (a raagi), Bhai Amarjeet Singh, and Bhai Ranjit Singh.
In a message posted on X, Badal expressed deep condolences: “The Shiromani Akali Dal stands in full solidarity with the families of the deceased Gursikhs. We pray for their peace and demand the martyrs be honored. Their families must receive full compensation and support during this time of grief. The Sikh community has always stood as the sword arm of the nation and will continue to do so.”
As tensions escalated, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the evacuation of civilians near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). He is reportedly in constant communication with BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Shah has instructed officials to prioritize the safety and relocation of affected civilians.
The Indian government described Operation Sindoor as a “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” action aimed at neutralizing the infrastructure used to plan and launch attacks against India.
In response, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar claimed that the Indian strikes killed 10 of his family members, including his elder sister, her husband, and four close associates.
Sources confirmed that all nine targeted camps were successfully hit and that the Indian Air Force pilots involved in the mission returned safely. Over 80 terrorists affiliated with JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen are believed to have been killed in the operation.
