National: Tensions have flared along the Line of Control (LoC) as a wave of ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces has resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians and injuries to 59 others, including 44 in Poonch district alone. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the figures, attributing the surge in hostilities to retaliatory fire following India’s precision military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The Indian Army had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror camps believed to be harbouring operatives from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in direct response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 Indian civilians. In the days that followed, Pakistani forces escalated cross-border shelling, using artillery and small arms fire against civilian areas across multiple sectors, including Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor.
Villages along the LoC witnessed widespread panic as residents abandoned their homes to seek safety. In Rajouri, Sailesh Kumar, a local villager, recounted the terrifying night: “We left our homes in fear and fled during the shelling. Two buildings were damaged, and shells landed on my house. The whole village was deserted. Some people even took their livestock with them.”
The barrage not only resulted in loss of life but also caused considerable destruction to homes and public property, compounding the trauma faced by affected families. Government sources have stated that the Indian Army responded proportionately to the unprovoked aggression and has intensified surveillance along the LoC to track potential escalations.
The MEA, through its External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division, confirmed that the recent Pakistani aggression fits into a broader pattern of escalating ceasefire violations since April 25–26. India has reiterated its commitment to defending its territory and civilians, asserting that deliberate targeting of non-combatants by Pakistani forces is a grave provocation.
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