In a desperate and brutal reaction to India’s deep strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK), the Pakistan Army unleashed heavy shelling on Poonch town and adjoining civilian areas late last night, causing civilian casualties and severe damage to homes, shops, and the historic Gurudwara Singh Sabha.
🌃 Night of Terror
Shelling began around 2 AM, catching residents of Poonch off guard.
“Mortars started raining in Poonch town at 2 AM and continued intermittently till 11 AM,” said a local official.
Police and local volunteers scrambled to evacuate victims amid relentless explosions. “We started shifting the injured to hospitals at midnight, but it was extremely dangerous,” said one police officer.
🕌 Damage to Religious, Civilian Structures
The prominent Gurudwara Singh Sabha and several nearby houses sustained direct hits. Many shops, homes, and other buildings were also damaged.
“This was barbaric and cowardly,” said one resident. “Targeting unarmed civilians is not bravery — it’s desperation.”
Residents described a sleepless night with shells landing close to homes, leaving many families to flee to safer locations or seek shelter with relatives.
⚔️ Indian Army Retaliates
The Indian Army responded swiftly and effectively at all locations along the LoC.
“Pakistan is retaliating to India’s operation by targeting the civilian population,” said Sardar Navneet Singh from Mankote. “They missed the military targets and shelled us heavily overnight, killing our people and injuring many. The damage to our homes is massive.”
📍 Areas Under Fire
- Poonch town
- Mendhar
- Mankote
- Thandi Kassi
The shelling damaged dozens of forward villages and densely populated civilian zones, creating panic across the region.
🌍 Background
The Pakistani attack followed India’s precision ‘Operation Sindoor’, which destroyed nine major terror camps across Pakistan and PoJK, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters.
