Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India]: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Raj Kumar Thappa, a senior officer in the J&K Administrative Services, who was killed during Pakistani shelling in the Rajouri district on Saturday.
Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 10, 2025
Taking to social media platform X, Omar Abdullah said:
“Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town, killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock & sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace.”
The shelling caused widespread damage in Rajouri’s civilian areas. A series of explosions led to the destruction of homes and property, throwing local communities into panic.
According to hospital authorities, at least one injured civilian was brought in for emergency treatment.
“One injured person has been brought here. Doctors and the entire team are ready. His treatment began immediately,” confirmed Farukh Ahmed Wani, the hospital’s security in-charge.
Shelling was also reported near the Aap Shambhu Temple in Rajouri. Police and security teams recovered projectile fragments from the affected area.
In a related incident in Punjab, a drone-related explosion damaged a home in Kanganiwal village of rural Jalandhar.
Surjeet Kaur, a resident, recounted the terrifying experience:
“A red coloured flash came above our house and there was a huge explosion. We got scared. Everything was dark. We came out of our houses after a short while and saw that the water tank above our houses and our neighbours’ houses had exploded. There was a blackout at that time, and all the lights were off.”
Top Indian government sources revealed that at least four airbases inside Pakistan were struck by retaliatory Indian airstrikes in the early hours of Saturday. The strikes followed Pakistan’s attack on 26 Indian locations, including Jammu, Srinagar, Barmer, Bhuj, Pathankot, and others.
According to the Ministry of Defence, drone activity was recorded across 26 locations along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC).
“These include suspected armed drones. Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, injuring members of a local family,” the statement said.
“The Indian Armed Forces remain on high alert, actively tracking and neutralising aerial threats with counter-drone systems. Citizens, especially those in border regions, are urged to stay indoors and follow all safety directives issued by authorities. While there is no need for panic, increased caution is essential,” the Ministry added.
The latest escalation follows a large-scale drone and missile attack by Pakistan during the night of May 7–8, which targeted multiple Indian military installations. Indian defence systems successfully intercepted the offensive and neutralised a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore as part of their response.
Tensions remain high along the LoC, with intermittent firing continuing in multiple sectors.