Poonch, J&K: In a solemn tribute on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Indian Army inaugurated a War Memorial at the Ajote War Memorial complex in Poonch, honouring civilians who lost their lives in cross-border shelling by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
The memorial was unveiled by Major General Kaushik Mukherjee, General Officer Commanding of the ‘Ace of Spades’ division. Built by the Durga Battalion under the Poonch Brigade, the memorial bears the names of local civilians who were killed during the intense shelling by Pakistani forces.
Japneet Kaur, a local resident who lost her father, Amrik Singh, expressed deep gratitude. “It was our wish that those who died in the shelling be honoured as martyrs. Seeing my father’s name on this memorial brings us some peace in our grief,” she told.
Rameez Khan, another grieving resident who lost his children Zayn and Zoya in the shelling, echoed similar sentiments. “The Army has done a commendable job. I only wished my children would be remembered and respected as martyrs.”
The shelling followed India‘s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, a large-scale military offensive in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Indian forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
In retaliation, Pakistan carried out widespread shelling across the Line of Control and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, along with attempted drone strikes. India responded with coordinated attacks, damaging Pakistani radar systems, communication hubs, and airfields at 11 military bases.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Pakistani shelling killed 16 civilians and injured 59 others. The newly inaugurated memorial stands as a symbol of resilience and remembrance for the civilians who became unintended victims of conflict.
