Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa was killed, and his two staff members were critically injured in Pakistani shelling in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday, officials said.
They were rushed to the Government Medical College. Thapa succumbed to his injuries while the condition of his staff members is stated to be critical, according to the officials.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to X, and said that an officer of the J&K Administration Services lost his life. He said that Raj Kumar Thappa's home was struck by a Pakistani artillery shell targeting Rajouri town.
Omar Abdullah wrote on X, "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 & attended the online meeting I chaired."
"Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town, killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Sh Raj Kumar Thappa. I’ve no words to express my shock & sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace," Abdullah added.
As Pakistan continues to launch drone attacks against India, Omar Abdullah has urged citizens to stay off the streets and stay at home. "It’s my earnest appeal to everyone in around Jammu please stay off the streets, stay at home or at the nearest place you can comfortably stay at for the next few hours. Ignore rumours, don’t spread unsubstantiated or unverified stories and we will get through this together," he wrote on X.
Also, as per the latest developments at the border, according to defence sources, the Indian Army has destroyed Pakistani posts and terrorist launch pads near Jammu that were being used to launch tube-launched drones.
Earlier, Pakistan carried out an unprovoked attack on Jammu, targeting civilian areas. A video that surfaced showed damage to a house caused by the shelling. In a separate incident, a drone strike in Ferozepur injured three people.
Source: India Today