Poonch Attack, Civilians Targeted After Operation Sindoor

Poonch Attack has been grabbing attention both nationally and globally, due to the growing humanitarian disaster in Jammu and Kashmir Poonch District. The attack took place after cross-border military clashes between ongoing India and Pakistan, especially Operation Sindoor- a counter terrorist attack on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on 22nd April 2025. 

Poonch Attack 

After India conducted Operation Sindoor, Pakistan retaliated by aiming at civilian locations in Poonch, causing severe heavy casualties and damage. As per reports, around 12 civilians, including women and children were killed and many were injured in Poonch Attack. This attack has led to a tightening of the security situation in Poonch. The cross-frontier firing and attack on civilian zones has led to apprehensions regarding the escalation and the security of people in border regions. 

Pakistan’s Poonch Attack after Operation Sindoor

Following India’s targeted strikes on terror infrastructure, Pakistan initiated heavy artillery and mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), with Poonch becoming the most severely affected districts. This indiscriminate nature of the shelling has led to significant civilian casualties, including women and children from Sikh and Muslim communities, and caused extensive damage to homes, religious structures—such as a Gurudwara, mosque, and Geeta Bhawan and essential civilian infrastructure.

India’s Operation Sindoor was reportedly aimed at neutralising terrorist facilities while avoiding civilian harm. However, the subsequent escalation from the Pakistani side has prompted a firm military response from the Indian Army, which is reported to have targeted Pakistani posts along the LoC. The situation remains tense, with national and international attention focused on whether this exchange will intensify or give way to a process of de-escalation.

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Poonch Gurudwara Attack

The aftermath of Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, has left the Poonch district in a state of deep grief and heightened tension. Among the most distressing incidents was the shelling of the Central Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, resulting in the partial destruction of the structure. Several members of the Sikh community lost their lives in the attack, including a raagi (hymn singer), a granthi (scripture reader and tabla player), and local shopkeepers.

In addition to the Gurudwara, other civilian and religious sites—including residential areas, local markets, a mosque, and a Geeta Bhawan—were also damaged in the Poonch shelling. The assault has triggered mass fear and forced displacement, with numerous families compelled to flee their homes in search of safety.

The targeting of unarmed civilians and places of worship has drawn sharp condemnation from Sikh religious leaders, political representatives, and community voices. They have demanded an immediate end to hostilities and called for accountability and justice for the victims.

Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir

Poonch is a district in Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in Jammu division. The district is flanked by the Line of Control in its north, west and south region, effectively bordering Pakistan-administered Kashmir on three sides. 

Poonch District Geography 

Poonch District is spread over an area of 1,674 square km. It is a mountainous terrain, marked by Pir Panjal Range that divides it from Kashmir Valley to the northeast. The demographic region represents the population of Islam(approx 44%)  , Sikhism(approx 33% )and Hinduism (approx 21%), showcasing a cultural distinctive mix. The languages spoken include Pahari, Gojri, Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu and Hindi. 

Poonch District History 

Poonch holds a deep-rooted historical and cultural legacy, with mythological links to Lord Rama and the Pandavas. It is believed to have been named after Maharishi Pulastya. In ancient records, it was known as Dravabhisar during Alexander’s invasion in 326 BC and later rose as an independent state in the 9th century AD.

During the early 19th century, Poonch came under the Sikh Empire and subsequently functioned as a jagir under the Dogra rulers of Jammu and Kashmir until the 1940s. The Indo-Pak conflict of 1947–48 led to the bifurcation of the original Poonch district, with the western region becoming part of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir.

Today, the Poonch district comprises six tehsils—Haveli, Mandi, Mendhar, Surankote, Mankote, and Balakote—which are subdivided into eleven administrative blocks and encompass a total of 179 villages.