Senior J&K official among five killed in Pakistani shelling in Jammu region
Rajouri, May 10: A senior Jammu and Kashmir official was among five civilians killed on Saturday morning as Pakistani forces carried out intense shelling across multiple areas in the Jammu region. The attacks come amid ongoing air and drone strikes along India’s northern and western frontiers.
Raj Kumar Thapa (55), Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) of Rajouri, lost his life after a Pakistani artillery shell hit his residence in Rajouri town early Saturday. Thapa, a 1989 MBBS graduate from Jammu Government Medical College, was critically injured in the blast and later succumbed to his injuries.
Just a day earlier, Thapa had accompanied Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on a district visit and had attended a high-level online meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Expressing his condolences on social media platform X, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote,
**“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 and attended the online meeting I chaired. Today, his residence was hit by Pakistani shelling. I have no words to express my shock and sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace.”**
He further urged the public to stay indoors and avoid sharing or believing in unverified rumours.
In a separate incident in Kheri village near Raipur on the outskirts of Jammu city, a civilian named Zakir Hussain was killed when another shell hit his house. Several members of his family were injured in the blast.
In yet another shelling-related incident, Ashok Kumar of Kheri Jattan and three of his relatives were wounded while they were trying to move to a safer location.
The latest attacks have pushed the civilian death toll in the Jammu region to five. This includes two residents from Bihar who died in Rajouri town and a woman who was killed in the Mendhar area of Poonch district during earlier strikes.
The early morning shelling marked a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities. It came just hours after Pakistan launched swarms of drones for the second night in a row, targeting Indian military positions in several cities close to the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.
According to officials, the Indian Air Force continued to effectively engage Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighters in response to these provocations. They also hinted that the PAF may have suffered losses during the overnight engagements, particularly in the Srinagar sector, which came under missile attack.
The situation remains tense in several border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, with local authorities urging residents to stay alert and follow safety advisories amid the continuing hostilities.
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Speaker UT Khader attends local cricket tournament during Bhatkal visit
Bhatkal: Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly U. T. Khader visited Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district on Saturday and attended a local cricket match being played as part of a tournament organised by the Cosmos Sports Centre of Bhatkal.
After attending a programme at Anjuman Hami-E-Muslimeen, Khader proceeded to the Bhatkal Taluka Stadium, where the tournament is underway. He was accompanied by office-bearers of the Cosmos Sports Centre and several local community leaders.
Those present during the visit included President of Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem and former JD(S) leader Inayathullah Shabandri, Vice President of Tanzeem Atiqur Rahman Muniri, General Secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ, President of Cosmos Sports Centre Ismail Anjum, Managing Director of Mohtisham Complexes S. M. Arshad, former president of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation Imtiyaz Udyawar, among others.
Addressing players and organisers, Khader extended his best wishes to the participating teams and urged the players to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship. He said such tournaments help promote unity and brotherhood among the youth.
The cricket tournament began on November 21 and will conclude with the final match on December 21. It is being organised as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Cosmos Sports Centre.
Cosmos Sports Centre is one of the member clubs of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation and is known for its active role in promoting sports in the town. Apart from sporting activities, the centre is also involved in various social and community initiatives, including efforts to promote education among students.
