Poonch: In a tragic turn of events, a local shopkeeper lost his life and a nearby gurdwara sustained serious damage as Pakistan carried out heavy shelling early Wednesday morning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. Eyewitnesses described the intensity of the attack as even more severe than what they experienced during the 1999 Kargil War, according to The Indian Express.
Officials identified the deceased as Amreek Singh, a well-known local shopkeeper. He was killed instantly when a shell exploded outside his shop near Syndicate Chowk just as he arrived to open it—sending shockwaves across the tight-knit community.
A gurdwara located only a short distance from the site was also hit during the barrage, suffering significant structural damage to its outer wall. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from inside the religious site.
Following the shelling, many families in Poonch have started fleeing toward Jammu in search of safety, fearing a fresh wave of violence.
The incident came amid heightened tensions following India’s retaliatory strikes on terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. At least seven civilians have reportedly died, and 38 others injured across Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of cross-border hostilities. Among the dead, one was killed in Mendhar and six in Poonch.
“During the night of 06–07 May 2025, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing, including artillery shelling, from posts across the Line of Control and International Border opposite J&K,” said Lt Colonel Suneel Baratwal, PRO (Defence), Northern Command. (With Inputs The Indian Express)
