Panic Strikes Before Sunrise: In the stillness of Wednesday morning, the course of life in Poonch district was irreversibly altered. Without forewarning, heavy shelling was launched from across the Line of Control (LoC), storming villages, homes, schools, and even a
gurdwara.
By the time the attack came to an end, 12 blameless individuals had been killed and 57 others had sustained injuries.
Widespread anxiety and confusion gripped the area as people urgently sought refuge. Among those who lost their lives were four young children and three individuals from the Sikh community. Many were pushed into hiding in underground bunkers, while others were left with no option but to escape from their homes.
A Retaliation Sparks Fury
The attack was launched just hours after Operation Sindoor was carried out by India—a military strike in which nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were targeted. The operation was carried out in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which took 26 lives.
Although tensions have always been high along the LoC, the shelling was described by witnesses as more intense than anything experienced before, even more frightening than what was witnessed during the 1999 Kargil War.
Shops and Sacred Spaces Not Spared
Amreek Singh, a small shop owner, was counted among the first victims. While he was opening his shop near Syndicate Chowk, a shell exploded close by, causing his instant death. The nearby Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was severely impacted, with major destruction reported.
The attack left the community in profound shock and heartache. For numerous individuals, the gurdwara had been a place of solace, a sanctuary now ravaged and marked by the brutality.
Cry of Sorrow and Anger
The Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, strongly criticized the attack. According to him, it was not just a hit on buildings or individuals but an attack on humanity as a whole. He urged India and Pakistan and ask them to choose the path of peace over warfare and to solve their differences through talks rather than violence.
A call for honoring the Sikh victims was made by Sukhbir Singh Badal after a heartfelt tribute was offered in their memory. Deeply pained, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu termed the passing of Bhai Amrik Singh Ji, Bhai Amarjeet Singh Ji, and Bhai Ranjit Singh Ji a terrible and awful catastrophe.
Fear Grips the Border Villages
The attack didn’t just hit one or two places. Nearly every area along the LoC in Poonch—such as Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni, and even the district center—was hit. A quiet morning turned into chaos as loud, frightening blasts caused massive damage, destroying many homes and burning vehicles.
In the chaos that followed, people had to leave everything behind and run to stay alive. Local authorities quickly set up help camps and gave medical care to the injured. Officials cautioned that the extensive damage to numerous homes would necessitate several days for a comprehensive assessment of the total destruction.
A Call for Protection and Peace
As cleanup begins and families bury their loved ones, the Indian government has promised a strong response to the aggression. Showing their strong and steady support, officials said that keeping people safe is the country’s top priority, and promised to respond to such attacks.
Even though fear has taken over Poonch, the people are showing great strength. But the pain from this tragedy is deep, and the call for peace is more important than ever.