Pak Shelling in Poonch: Union HM distributes appointment letters for govt jobs to affected families
Assures financial package for affected families
Poonch: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday distributed government job appointment letters among the families affected by the cross-border attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and said the Centre would introduce a relief package for them in the days to come.
The Poonch sector witnessed heightened artillery and mortar shelling after India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, in response to the Pahalgam massacre.
A wave of artillery shelling, missile, and drone attack by Pakistan killed 28 people — 14 in Poonch district alone — and injured more than 70 across Jammu and Kashmir between May 7 and 10.
“A programme to provide government jobs to the families of those killed in the condemnable attack by Pakistan was organised here today.
“The compensation and jobs cannot fully make up for the loss of life, but they are a symbol of the sentiments of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the Government of India, and the people of the entire nation,” Shah told the affected families in his address here.
He emphasized that the whole country stands with them like a rock.
The Union Home Minister expressed his condolences to the families affected by Pakistan’s aggression on residential areas, temples, gurdwaras, and mosques in Poonch.
“The spirit of patriotism that has emerged among the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir — from the Valley to Poonch and Kathua — following the Pahalgam terrorist attack has strengthened the resolve of the entire nation,” he said.
Shah said Indian forces demolished the headquarters of terrorist organizations located inside Pakistan’s borders.
“Due to the determination of Prime Minister Modi, the precise intelligence provided by our agencies, and the remarkable courage and pinpoint accuracy of the military, hundreds of terrorists were eliminated.”
He remarked that while India attacked terrorists, Pakistan perceived it as an attack on itself, revealing to the world that it shelters and sponsors terrorism.
The Union Home Minister clarified that India did not target any military or civilian facility in Pakistan. “With utmost precision and restraint, Indian forces completely destroyed Pakistan-sponsored terrorist bases,” he said.
He added that following India’s strikes, a “rattled” Pakistan resorted to firing on residential areas in Jammu and Kashmir, with Poonch suffering the most damage. “Pakistan fired on all residential areas, temples, gurdwaras, and madrassas in Poonch,” he said, adding the world is now strongly condemning Pakistan’s attacks on civilians.
He further said that when Pakistan attacked residential areas and unarmed civilians, the Indian Army responded robustly by damaging nine of their airbases and military capabilities.
Shah asserted that under PM Modi’s leadership, India has a clear security policy. “Our army will not tolerate any kind of interference with our civilians or along our borders.”
“For the damage caused to people’s homes and commercial establishments in Poonch, the Government of India will bring a relief package in the coming days,” he announced.
Shah also commended the Jammu and Kashmir administration for standing by the people throughout the crisis. “The administration promptly evacuated thousands of people to safe locations, which reduced casualties significantly,” he added.
Shah said that that a package would soon be announced by the Centre for damaged homes, businesses, and religious sites.
Soon after his arrival in Poonch, Shah visited Gurudwara Singh Sabha, which was damaged in the Pakistani shelling. He also visited other such places in the shelling-hit areas and interacted with the people.
During his visit, Shah met residents and families who lost loved ones and suffered extensive damage to their properties in the shelling.
Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Delhi Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa, Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the Jammu region, visited shelling-hit places in the town. He was greeted with the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Shah also met the affected shopkeepers.
Addressing people in Poonch, Shah said that Pakistan committed a “highly condemnable act” by carrying out intense shelling in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Poonch, and asserted that India responded by precisely targeting terror infrastructure across the border without harming any civilians.
Calling the recent shelling “the worst in Poonch since Independence,” Shah said civilian homes, temples, gurudwaras, and mosques were targeted by Pakistan.
“This is a highly condemnable act. Pakistan used civilians as human shields. Only after this provocation, our forces responded with strength and precision,” he said.
Shah said that a package would soon be introduced by the Centre for damaged homes, businesses, and religious sites.
He arrived in Jammu on Thursday, his third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since April 6. The Union home minister chaired a high-level meeting here on Thursday night to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra, officials said.
