Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts on May 10, 2025, following deadly Pakistani shelling that killed several civilians, including Additional District Development Commissioner of Rajouri, Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa. The unprovoked attacks have escalated tensions along the Line of Control , drawing widespread condemnation.
We have lost brave citizens including our ADDC Rajouri, Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa in the line of duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.” The review meeting with senior officials focused on bolstering defenses and ensuring civilian safety in Rajouri, Poonch, and Jammu.
Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa, a 55-year-old officer, was killed on May 10, 2025, when a Pakistani shell hit his Rajouri residence at 5:30 a.m. Two staff members were critically injured. Thapa had accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister on a district tour and briefed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah virtually hours earlier. Other casualties include two-year-old Aisha Noor and 35-year-old Mohd Shohib in Rajouri, 55-year-old Rashida Bi in Poonch, and Ashok Kumar in Jammu’s R S Pura, with 16 civilians, including three women and five children, killed overall.
The shelling follows India’s “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after a Pahalgam attack killed 26 civilians. Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes on 26 Indian locations, prompting Indian defenses to intercept threats. The LoC has seen 14 nights of ceasefire violations, with heavy fire in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, and Rajouri. A Gingal village resident told ANI, “Shelling started at 3 a.m. There’s only smoke and damage now… We want peace.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, visiting Rehari and Roopnagar, called Thapa’s death “devastating,” noting his dedication. Mehbooba Mufti urged de-escalation, stating on X, “This cycle of retaliation has cost too many lives.” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accused Pakistan of targeting hospitals and schools. X posts claim civilian targeting 20-50 km inside the border, but these are unverified.
Schools are closed until May 12, 2025, with online classes enforced. Jammu saw a blackout on May 9, and 24 airports, including Srinagar, remain shut until May 15. Nearly 10,000 residents from five border districts are in relief camps. The Army is evacuating civilians from Nowshera, Dhangri, Kalakote, and Sunderbani, while shells damaged Poonch’s District Police Lines and vehicles near the hospital. A red alert is active in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer.
Pakistan denies targeting civilians, calling Indian claims “politically motivated.” The UN and G7 urge restraint, with Russia, the U.S., UK, and France backing India’s counterterrorism stance, while China remains neutral. The conflict, tied to Kashmir disputes, risks escalation, with civilian infrastructure like religious sites under attack, fueling calls for de-escalation.