In the aftermath of intense cross-border shelling by Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor, top political leaders across party lines visited affected families in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing solidarity and vowing swift rehabilitation efforts.
J&K BJP President Sat Sharma on Tuesday visited families in border areas who lost loved ones during recent shelling by Pakistani forces. Speaking to ANI, Sharma condemned Pakistan for targeting civilian zones and reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position on the issue.
“We met the families who have lost their loved ones in Pakistani shelling... Pakistan targeted civilian areas... PM Modi clearly said that the fight between Pakistan and India is for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and terrorism, and trade cannot go on simultaneously... Every action of Pakistan will be given a befitting reply,” Sharma said.
Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, saw the Indian Armed Forces conducting precision strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In retaliation, Pakistan intensified cross-border shelling, resulting in injuries and damage in Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch districts.
Amid the humanitarian crisis, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara, meeting with those injured in the shelling. He also toured affected villages in Tangdhar, inspecting community bunkers and assessing damage on the ground.
“By God's grace, we haven't lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and madrasas. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will compensate the people accordingly,” CM Abdullah told the media.
He further stated that while community bunkers had been constructed, more individual bunkers would be built to offer better protection to people living near the LoC.
“The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn't need them for a long time... We will try to build individual bunkers around the border and LoC areas,” he added.
Calling the residents of Tangdhar and Kupwara “remarkably courageous,” the Chief Minister assured them of comprehensive support from the administration.
