In a significant escalation along the Line of Control, Pakistan’s heavy shelling has claimed the life of Raj Kumar Thappa, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the incident via a post on social media platform X on Saturday morning (May 10).
Abdullah wrote, “Just yesterday, Raj Kumar Thappa and the Deputy Chief Minister participated in an online meeting chaired by me. Today, his residence was struck by Pakistani shellfire. Rajouri town was the primary target. Tragically, Thappa was killed in the attack.”
He added, “Words fail me in expressing the grief I feel. I pray for the peace of his soul.”
Thappa was a trusted officer of the BJP-led Indian government, and his sudden death has prompted widespread condolences from BJP leaders on social media.
Meanwhile, early Saturday morning, Pakistan launched a retaliatory strike on Indian military infrastructure, reportedly using the Fatah-1 medium-range missile for the first time. The Pakistani military stated that only military installations were targeted, and civilian areas were avoided.
Pakistan claims the strike was in response to an earlier Indian attack on May 6 that resulted in civilian casualties on the Pakistani side. Despite initial restraint, Pakistan said it was compelled to respond due to continued Indian aggression.
