8 civilians killed, 24 injured in heavy shelling by Pakistan along LoC

At least eight civilians were killed and 24 others were injured along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district after Pakistan began targeting Indian posts in the early hours of Wednesday with heavy artillery shelling.

The shelling came hours after Indian forces carried out precision strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people two weeks ago .

“At least eight people have died and 24 others injured in Pakistani shelling along the LoC in Poonch district," said a police officer at the Poonch police control room.

He said that intermittent shelling and firing were still on.

Mendhar, Mankote, Balakote and Sagra and Shahpur Kirni were the areas along the LoC that bore the maximum brunt of Pakistani shelling. “Villagers are migrating to their relatives' houses in Jammu,” said Darshan Bharti, a resident of Poonch city. He said that he was evacuating his family to Jammu. "But there is panic among the people. There are large queues of people at fuel stations," he said.

Poonch deputy commissioner Vikas Kundal and senior superintendent of police Shafqat Hussain didn't respond to calls and messages.

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha took stock of the situation in the border districts with all the senior administrative, police and district officials, including deputy commissioners (DCs) of all the border districts, earlier this morning.

“I'm closely monitoring the situation and the government is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality. I've also directed the DCs for shifting of villagers from vulnerable areas to safer locations and ensuring boarding, lodging, food, medicare and transportation. We will ensure the safety of every citizen. Jai Hind!” the L-G posted on X.

In north Kashmir, panic spread after Pakistani shells began raining on villages in Uri, Kupwara and Tangdhar shortly after midnight. At least a dozen houses were damaged and five people including a three-year-old boy, were injured in the shelling from across the LoC.

The villagers close to bunkers took refuge in underground shelters, and a majority of people stayed in their mud and brick houses. Five persons were injured and four houses damaged when shells landed on Salamabad village, close to the LoC. “There is panic in our village. From midnight, nobody could sleep due to heavy shelling. It's reminiscent of the past years when similar artillery shells landed in our villages," said Mohammad Aslam of Salamabad. "The injured persons have been shifted to sub district hospital Uri," he added.

Pakistani shells also landed in Gingal, Salamabad and Kamalkote in Uri, and Batapora in Tangdhar. "We have taken refuge in underground bunkers after shells started falling in the neighboring village Batapora. There is fear everywhere as the situation is very bad; some houses caught fire due to the shelling," said Mohammad Shafiq from Kandi Tanghdar.

The heavy shelling triggered panicked evacuation from Chowkibal village, which is in Kupwara. A senior health officer said they received three injuries in the sub-district hospital Uri. "We are anticipating more injuries as shelling has been going since midnight," he said.

The army confirmed the shelling. "During the night of 06-07 May 2025, Pakistan Army resorted to arbitrary firing including artillery shelling from posts across the Line of Control and international border opposite J&K. Three innocent civilians lost their lives in indiscriminate firing/shelling. Indian Army is responding in a proportionate manner.” the army said in a statement.

"Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch- Rajouri area. Indian Army is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner," the additional directorate general of public information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army wrote on X at 2.42am.

The shelling began after India carried out precision strikes on “terrorist infrastructure” at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The defence ministry announced early on Wednesday that the armed forces targeted sites “from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed” under the action codenamed “Operation Sindoor”.

Since the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, the worst strike on civilians in nearly two decades, Pakistan has repeatedly flouted the ceasefire along the LoC and the international border for 12 consecutive days. But Wednesday morning saw the first instance of heavy shelling along the de-facto border in these two weeks. Anti-aircraft firing was heard in the Valley with sirens blaring at the 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar, said people aware of developments.

Pakistani troops violated the February 2021 ceasefire agreement around 15 times between January and early April 2025. But the repeated targeting of Indian posts along the LoC, and the IB last week, has sparked the most extensive cross-border exchange since the 2021 ceasefire.

On Tuesday too, the Pakistan Army had escalated tensions along the LoC by firing at Indian posts in several sectors including Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor, marking the 12 straight day of ceasefire violations. The Indian Army’s counter -fire was measured but effective.

The neighbouring army had opened fire in these eight sectors on Sunday and Monday too, the maximum number of areas it targeted on a single day after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The extensive ceasefire violations were seen as a deliberate attempt by Pakistan to escalate tensions along the de facto border where it has rushed reinforcements to bolster its posture. The repeated targeting of Indian posts has sparked the most extensive cross-border exchange since the 2021 ceasefire.

Unlike isolated, brief exchanges that were quickly resolved through established channels, the current pattern involves simultaneous salvos at multiple points and has persisted with increasing frequency after the Pahalgam terror attack.