Two civilians and a senior J&K official were killed in Rajouri by intense Pakistani shelling
As their missiles attacked Srinagar, India continued to "effectively" engage Pakistan Air Force fighters. According to officials, the PAF had lost the battle. India News from Pakistan: As India continued to respond to the barrage of airstrikes overnight, a senior official from Jammu and Kashmir and two other civilians were killed in Rajouri early on Saturday under heavy artillery fire from Pakistan.
Other District Development Commissioner of Rajouri, Raj Kumar Thapa (55), died of critical injuries Saturday morning when a Pakistani shell exploded at his residence.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in shock and condoling X, stated that the tragic event comes just one day after ADC Thapa led deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary around the district while Pakistan went on to target a number of locations in India, especially the UT. He also attended the online meeting chaired by the CM.
"Horrendous news from Rajouri.". We have lost a committed officer of the J&K Administration Services. Yesterday he was with the Deputy CM touring the district & participated in the online meeting I was chairing. Today the officer's residence was targeted by Pak shelling as they attacked Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa. I have no words to describe my shock & grief at this ghastly loss of life. May his soul rest in peace," the CM's message said.
He also requested the people to remain indoors. "Ignore rumors, don't spread unverified or unsubstantiated stories & we will navigate this together," he further said.
Thappa was an MBBS graduate of 1989 from Jammu government medical college.
The dawn hours intensification followed several hours after Pakistan, for the second night in a row, dispatched swarms of drones against military bases in various cities on India's northern and western borders.
While that is happening, India is "effectively" shooting down Pakistan Air Force jets whose missiles have hit Srinagar. Authorities confirmed PAF had lost planes during the fight.
The union government will give a detailed briefing of the attack made by Pakistan and India's counterattack at 10 am.
