A deadly exchange occurred along the LoC as Pakistan shelled forward villages in J&K, resulting in 15 civilian deaths and 57 injuries. This came hours after India’s military targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK in response to the Pahalgam massacre, escalating border tensions significantly.
BY PC Bureau
In a deadly escalation following India’s retaliatory strikes on terror camps, Pakistan unleashed heavy artillery and mortar shelling on forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 civilians, including four children, and injuring 57 others.
This intense and widespread shelling from across the border commenced shortly after the Indian armed forces executed “Operation Sindoor,” a series of missile strikes aimed at nine identified terrorist targets within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India launched the retaliatory operation to avenge the devastating April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The Poonch district bore the brunt of the day’s violence, accounting for all 15 reported civilian deaths and leaving a critical 42 individuals injured. Among the victims were Balvinder Kour, also known as “Ruby” (33), two young siblings, Mohd Zain Khan (10) and Zoya Khan (12), Mohd Akram (40), Amrik Singh (55), Mohd Iqbal (45), Ranjeet Singh (48), Shakeela Bi (40), Amarjeet Singh (47), Maryam Khatoon (7), Vihaan Bhargav (13), and Mohd Rafi (40). The sheer randomness and intensity of the shelling were underscored by the tragic incident involving a family attempting to flee Poonch towards Jammu in their private vehicle, only to be caught in the barrage, resulting in the death of their youngest son and injuries to five other family members.
A family travelling towards #Jammu in a private vehicle came under heavy shelling while moving out of #Poonch. The youngest son was killed while five others were injured.
— Mohit Kandhari (@mkandharii) May 7, 2025
Officials on the ground described the shelling by Pakistan as “indiscriminate,” designed to inflict maximum damage and sow panic among the civilian population residing in the vulnerable border areas. This tactic forced countless residents to abandon their homes, seeking precarious shelter in underground bunkers or attempting to relocate to safer zones further away from the LoC. The impact of the shelling was widespread across the Poonch sector, affecting areas including Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni, and even the district headquarters of Poonch itself. Dozens of houses and civilian vehicles sustained significant damage in the onslaught.
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In response to this aggression, the Indian Army stated that it was retaliating in a “befitting manner,” engaging Pakistani military positions along the LoC. Army sources indicated that the Indian response had resulted in “many casualties on the enemy side” and the destruction of several Pakistani posts that were actively involved in the shelling. However, specific figures regarding Pakistani casualties have not been officially released.
A family travelling towards #Jammu in a private vehicle came under heavy shelling while moving out of #Poonch. The youngest son was killed while five others were injured.
— Mohit Kandhari (@mkandharii) May 7, 2025
The impact of the cross-border shelling was not limited to Poonch. Ten individuals, including five minor children, suffered injuries in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, while another three were injured in the Rajouri district. The intensity of the shelling also led to several houses catching fire in the Karnah sector of Kupwara district, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the border regions.
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Eyewitness accounts from the affected areas painted a grim picture of the day’s events. Locals described the shelling as relentless, particularly intense until noon, and posing significant challenges to rescue and evacuation efforts. The Poonch bus stand, a vital transportation hub, was also hit, damaging several vehicles and further disrupting civilian life.
A defence spokesman had earlier confirmed that the Pakistan Army initiated “arbitrary firing, including artillery shelling,” from posts across the LoC and International Border during the night of May 6 and 7, preceding the more intense shelling witnessed on Wednesday. He reiterated the Indian Army’s commitment to a “proportionate response.”
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