In a tragic escalation of cross-border hostilities, Rajouri’s Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC), Raj Kumar Thappa, was killed early Saturday when a Pakistani shell struck his residence around 5:30 a.m. The fatal strike hit his room moments after he returned inside, following a series of loud explosions that rocked the border town in Jammu & Kashmir.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah mourned Thappa's death, describing him as a dedicated officer who was actively serving just a day prior, accompanying the Deputy CM on district visits and attending state meetings.
Explosions and heavy shelling were reported across multiple J&K locations- including Srinagar, Jammu, Rajouri, and Udhampur as tensions spiraled following India’s confirmed strikes on three Pakistani airbases.

The sudden loss of a senior official has further inflamed emotions in an already volatile region, as both sides brace for intensified conflict despite global calls for restraint and dialogue.