Rahul Gandhi Visits Poonch to Meet Victims of Cross-Border Shelling, Expresses Solidarity
Poonch/Jammu, May 24: In a gesture of solidarity and compassion, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Saturday to meet the victims of the recent cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces. His visit comes in the wake of a deadly spate of shelling incidents that followed India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
This marks Gandhi’s second visit to the Union Territory within a month. Earlier, on April 25, he had visited Srinagar to meet the injured victims of the Pahalgam attack and held discussions with the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and other key stakeholders, underscoring his commitment to standing by the people of Jammu and Kashmir during times of crisis.
On Saturday, Gandhi landed at Jammu Airport in the morning and boarded a helicopter to reach the shell-hit areas of Poonch, which bore the brunt of intense artillery and drone strikes between May 7 and 10. The violence during this period claimed 28 lives across the region, including 13 fatalities in Poonch district alone, and left over 70 injured. The heavy shelling and missile strikes forced thousands of residents near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border to flee their homes and take shelter in government-run relief camps.
The situation eventually de-escalated after India and Pakistan reached a mutual understanding on May 10 to end the hostilities, following four days of heightened military confrontation.
According to J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, Gandhi’s itinerary included visits to structures damaged in the shelling, such as a gurdwara, a temple, a madrassa, and a Christian missionary school. He also interacted with bereaved families and members of the civil society to listen to their grievances and extend emotional and moral support.
“Rahul Gandhi is the first national political leader to physically reach out to the affected communities and express heartfelt solidarity with the victims,” Karra said. “His visit is not just symbolic but reflects a serious concern for the ongoing challenges faced by the people living along the border.”
During his previous visit, Gandhi had emphasized that acts of terror are designed to sow division among Indians and reiterated that the country must stand united to defeat the forces of terrorism. His continuing engagement with the people of Jammu and Kashmir reflects his call for national unity and compassion during difficult times.
