J-K: Civilian areas in Jammu city suffer significant damage due to shelling by Pakistan
BJP MLA from Jammu West, Arvind Gupta, advised people to sleep on the ground floor.
Arvind Gupta said, 'The shelling started at 4 am. At around 5.40 am, I was on the first floor of my house, which is around 50 metres from here. There was a sudden impact, I was a little scared. Three people were injured in the shelling.'
He further said that Pakistan has no guts to have a direct fight with the Indian Army so it has started attacking the residential areas.
'The only reason behind the attack on residential areas is to cause panic in Jammu City. I appeal to the people not to gather wherever anything like this happens so that nothing untoward happens there if an attack happens there again. People should sleep on the ground floor. Rajouri ADC too lost his life in the night,' he said.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief on the demise of J&K Administration Services officer Raj Kumar Thappa. The J-K CM offered his condolences to Thappa who lost his life aftern his home was targeted due to shelling from Pakistan in Rajouri.
'Devastating news from Rajouri. We have lost a dedicated officer of the J&K Administration Services. Just yesterday he was accompanying the Deputy CM around the district & attended the online meeting I chaired. Today the residence of the officer was hit by Pak shelling as they targeted Rajouri town killing our Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thappa. I've no words to express my shock & sadness at this terrible loss of life. May his soul rest in peace', Omar Abdiullah's official 'X' post read.
Civilian areas in Jammu's Rajouri district suffered damage due to shelling by Pakistan.
A series of explosions damaged several houses and properties across the region, triggering panic among residents.
According to locals, smoke rose after loud explosions were reported in Rajouri. 'One injured person has been brought here. Doctors and the entire team are ready. His treatment began immediately,' said Farukh Ahmed Wani, the security in-charge at the hospital.
Authorities confirmed that the injured civilian was transported to the hospital shortly after the shelling. Strikes occurred near the Aap Shambhu Temple in Rajouri, prompting Jammu Police and other agencies to recover projectile fragments from the site.
At least four airbases in Pakistan were hit by Indian strikes in the early hours of Saturday, top government sources said, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
India launched the retaliatory strikes immediately after Pakistan attacked 26 locations across India on Saturday, the sources told ANI. Intermittent firing is still going on at several places along the Line of Control (LoC). (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
India-China Bromance Makes U.S. 'JEALOUS'; Trump Cries Foul As Putin's Team Gets Stronger
/ Aug 20, 2025, 05:39PM IST Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China for the first time in 7 years, signalling a major diplomatic shift just as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accuses India of profiteering from Russian oil. With Trump threatening steep tariffs on Indian exports, tensions are rising between longtime allies. Meanwhile, India and China are quietly restoring trade ties and border dialogue.
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India signs Terms of Reference for trade deal with Russia and others
India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic, on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Indian government announced. Also Read | Unjustified, says Russia on U.S. pressure on India for buying Russian crude oil This comes amid pressure from the U.S. — in the form of additional tariffs on imports from India — to reduce its economic ties with Russia. Also Read | Trump imposed tariffs on India to end Russia-Ukraine war, says White House The ToR were signed by Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce in the Government of India and Mikhail Cherekaev, Deputy Director in the Trade Policy Department in the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). 'Both sides noted the growing trade turnover between India and the EAEU, which stood at $69 billion in 2024, registering a 7% increase over 2023,' the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release. 'With a combined GDP of $6.5 trillion, the proposed FTA is expected to expand market access for Indian exporters, support diversification into new sectors and geographies, enhance competitiveness against non-market economies, and deliver significant benefits to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),' it added. The Ministry added that both sides of the agreement reaffirmed their commitment to an 'early conclusion' of the FTA and to 'building a long-term institutional framework for trade cooperation'.
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Lok Sabha passes Bill to outlaw online gambling-betting, government prioritises society over revenue
New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, aiming to promote e-sports and online social games, while outlawing online money gaming. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier today. The Bill was brought in to encourage e-sports and online social games while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services, advertisements, and financial transactions related to them. The Bill seeks to completely ban on offering, operating, or facilitating online money games, irrespective of whether based on skill, chance, or both. "When it comes to society, middle-class people, or a segment of industry. When it comes to society and the government revenue, our prime minister has always chosen the society. Never have we compromised on the interest of the society," Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said, requesting the House, particularly the Opposition members, to unanimously pass the Bill in the Lok Sabha. Opposition members continued raising their slogans, as the Bill was passed by voice vote. "Online gaming has three segments. First is e-sports which needs strategic thinking, team building, enhances cultural segment is online social games, be it Solitaire, Chess, Sudoku. They are educative and entertaining. They are widely played," Vaishnaw further said. "There is a third segment, online money game, which is a cause of concern in the society. There are people, there are families who got addicted to online money games. They lose their hard-earned money. Algorithms are sometimes such that it is different to know with whom you are playing. Algorithms are opaque." "Many families have been devastated, many died by suicide," the minister said. Online money game is seriously affecting families, terror being financed, money being laundered. There will be no punishment for those playing online money games; it is only the service providers, advertisers, promoters, and those who financially support such games will face the consequences, said sources. "No punishment for those playing online games. No punishment to victims. Only punishment for service providers, advertisers, promoters and who support financially to such games," a source said on Wednesday. Through this legislation, the government aims to promote e-sports and give them legal recognition. This bill will help in providing legal support to e-sports. Earlier, there was no legal backing for e-sports, sources said. "We have interacted with the 3rd segment of the online gaming industry. We tried to impose GST also, but the challenge continued. We had no option but to choose society for the welfare of people," a source said. For the promotion of e-sports, which has been recognised as a legitimate form of competitive sport in India, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will establish a dedicated framework. Online social games will also be promoted by the government. It is the online money game, according to sources, that is a big problem for society. Several reports of suicide, violent attacks and other challenges were reported, the sources added. "Fraud and cheating are happening through these games and several families are ruined." The government believes that the harms of addiction, financial losses, and even extreme consequences such as suicides associated with online money gaming can be prevented by prohibition of such activities. There are reports of money laundering and terror financing, the sources added. Failing to fulfil the law, once enacted, can attract imprisonment up to 3 years and/or fine up to ₹ 1 crore for offering or facilitating online money gaming. For advertising money games, and imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine up to ₹ 50 lakh may be attracted. for financial transactions related to money games, imprisonment up to 3 years and/or fine up to ₹ 1 crore is being provided. Any repeat offences may attract enhanced penalties, including imprisonment of 3-5 years and fines up to ₹ 2 crore. Offences under key sections to be cognizable and non-bailable. The central government may authorise officers to investigate, search, and seize digital or physical property linked to offences, and officers would be empowered to enter, search, and arrest without warrant in certain cases of suspected offences. (ANI)
