Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), conveyed her profound sadness over the passing of Raj Kumar Thappa, the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) of Rajouri, who was killed by obvious shelling from Pakistan.

Following the April 22 terror incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and 17 wounded, Mufti made an emotional speech denouncing the cycle of violence that has been occurring in the face of the growing tension between India and Pakistan. Mufti urged a stop to the escalating hostilities, pointing out their disastrous effects on people.

We are very grieved to learn that Raj Kumar Thappa, Additional DC in Rajouri, one of our courageous policemen, lost his life to shelling from the other side of the border. In a post on X, Mufti said, “War is always tragic, but it becomes even more heartbreaking when innocent civilians, including children, bear the brunt of the mindless violence.” She prayed for Thappa’s soul to rest in peace and sent her sympathies to his grieving family.

“Too many innocent lives have already been lost in this cycle of vengeance, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping. My deepest sympathies to the family who has lost a loved one. She said, “May his soul rest in peace.”

Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, had earlier also lamented Raj Kumar Thappa’s passing. The J-K chief minister expressed his sympathies to Thappa, who died when shelling from Pakistan in Rajouri struck his Rajouri residence.

The news from Rajouri is devastating. A devoted member of the J&K Administration Services has passed away. He attended the online meeting I conducted yesterday and accompanied the Deputy CM on his travels across the area. Our Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa was killed today when Pakistani shelling struck the officer’s home when they attacked Rajouri town. There are no words to describe how shocked and saddened I am by this horrible death. Omar Abdullah wrote on X, “May his soul rest in peace.”

Pakistan shelled civilian areas in the Rajouri district of Jammu, causing damage. Residents in the area were alarmed when a series of explosions destroyed many homes and buildings. Locals claim that after loud explosions were heard in Rajouri, smoke erupted.

“We’ve brought one wounded guy here. The crew, including the doctors, is prepared. The hospital’s security chief, Farukh Ahmed Wani, said that his treatment started right away.

Shortly after the bombardment, the wounded civilian was taken to the hospital, according to authorities. Projectile pieces were recovered from the scene by Jammu Police and other authorities after strikes near the Aap Shambhu Temple in Rajouri.

As tensions between the two nations continue to rise, sources informed ANI that Indian attacks in the early hours of today targeted four airbases in Pakistan. According to the reports, India promptly began the retaliation attacks after Pakistan targeted 26 areas around India. Several locations along the Line of Control (LoC) continue to see intermittent fire.