Jammu – In a tragic turn of events, a senior government officer in Jammu and Kashmir lost his life early Saturday after a shell fired from across the border struck his official residence in Rajouri town. The attack, which took place in the early hours, also left two of his staff members critically injured.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa, was at home when an artillery shell hit his quarters, leading to fatal injuries. He was rushed to Government Medical College for emergency treatment but succumbed despite medical efforts. His two staff members remain in a critical state, battling for their lives.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the administrative corridors of the Union Territory. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to social media platform X to express his profound sorrow.
“Devastating news from Rajouri,” he wrote. “We’ve lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administrative Services. Just yesterday, he was accompanying the Deputy CM and had joined an online meeting I chaired. Today, his residence was hit as Pakistan targeted Rajouri town. I have no words to express my shock and sadness. May his soul rest in peace.”
The shelling, which appears to be a direct attack on civilian and administrative structures, has once again brought into focus the dangers faced by those living and serving in border districts. The government is expected to issue a formal statement later today, and security agencies are reviewing the situation on the ground.
As tributes pour in, Raj Kumar Thapa is being remembered not just as an officer, but as a committed public servant who served till his final day with integrity and dedication.
