𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭

Security has been significantly intensified in Poonch city, Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit scheduled for today. Locals are hopeful that the visit will result in a relief package, especially in light of the damage caused by recent cross-border shelling.

A local resident shared with ANI that many have suffered due to the shelling and expressed hope that the Home Minister would announce a supportive relief package. Another resident, Ashukh Ahmed, echoed similar sentiments, stating that people have faced immense hardship, including deaths and damage to homes. “Even our district’s bus stand was hit,” he said, stressing that very few places remained untouched by the attacks.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who visited the affected areas in Poonch on Thursday, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged the Centre to announce a comprehensive and generous relief and rehabilitation package for victims of Pakistani shelling.

Gandhi noted in his letter that 14 civilians, including four children, had died, and many others were injured in the unprovoked shelling that led to extensive destruction of homes, shops, schools, and places of worship. He emphasized the emotional and economic toll on the residents, stating that “years of effort were destroyed in an instant.”

He also took to X (formerly Twitter), stating that the extent of pain and devastation in Poonch can only be truly understood by visiting the region in person.

The shelling followed Operation Sindoor, which India launched on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. In retaliation, Indian forces struck nine terror-linked locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan responded with shelling and attempted drone attacks across the Line of Control and border areas, prompting further Indian strikes that targeted communication hubs, radar stations, and airfields at 11 Pakistani airbases.

The hostilities eventually led to an agreement on May 10 for a cessation of further conflict between the two nations.