A senior Jammu and Kashmir official was killed by Pakistani shelling in Rajouri district on Saturday, the UT’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.
The deceased Indian official was identified as Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa.
Confirming his death, Omar Abdullah wrote on X: “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,” he said.
With Pakistan launching drone attacks against India for the past two days, Abdullah urged people to stay indoors.
He said: “It’s my earnest appeal to everyone in & around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don’t spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories & we will get through this together.”
BJP leader expresses sadness
BJP leader Ravinder Raina mourned the death of the official and wrote on X: “Deeply Saddened to hear that my friend Sh. #Raj_Kumar_Thappa Ji ADC Rajouri (J&K) lost his life in a possible Missile/Drone attack in Rajouri. He was Very daring and people’s friendly officer who served Nation/society with Utmost sincerity. Your’s Selfless Service and sacrifices shall always be remembered Thappa Sahib. My deep Condolences with the bereaved family members.”
26 locations targeted
The Indian Ministry of Defence on Saturday confirmed that Pakistani drones targeted 26 places in India on Friday.
“These include suspected armed drones. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala,” the X post said.
At least three members of a family were injured after a drone hit a civilian house in Punjab’s Ferozepur.
“Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in injuries to members of a local family. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces,” the Ministry said.
The latest attack comes after India thwarted 300 to 400 drones launched by Pakistan towards 36 urban centres during the May 8 attack amid escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Two weeks after the Pahalgam attack took place, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
In several Indian cities, located close to the Pakistani border, sirens are being sounded intermittently, with Indian air defence systems intercepting drones and missiles launched from across the border.
