Tensions flared along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday after India launched Operation Sindoor—a high-precision tri-services strike targeting nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). In retaliation, the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked artillery shelling, killing 10 Indian civilians, including two children, and injuring 33 others in the Poonch sector.
In response to the escalation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the evacuation of residents from forward villages near the LoC. “The safety of our civilians is India’s top priority,” Shah said, as sources confirmed ongoing evacuations to safer zones in areas like Bakars.
Operation Sindoor specifically targeted camps associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen—terror outfits long linked to cross-border attacks in India.
Among the key terror hubs hit were Muridke, Bahawalpur, Gulpur, Sawai, Kotli, Barnala, Sarjal, Bilal Camp, and Mehmoona Camp. Government officials described the strikes as “focused, precise, and non-escalatory,” adding that all objectives were achieved and Indian pilots returned safely.
Following the Pakistani shelling, the Indian Army launched a counter-assault, causing heavy damage to multiple Pakistani Army posts in the Kupwara and Rajouri-Poonch sectors. Defence sources reported “significant military casualties” on the Pakistani side, with intense artillery exchanges continuing throughout the day.
Home Minister Shah remains in constant coordination with BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to oversee civilian protection and ensure rapid military response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also monitoring the situation closely, according to senior government officials.
