Rahul Gandhi to adopt 22 children who lost their parents in Pakistani shelling in Poonch during Op Sindoor

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has decided to adopt 22 children who lost either one or both parents in the Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Sindoor.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra said, "A lot of civilian casualties and damage to properties took place in Poonch and Rajouri (between May 7 and 10) in Pakistani shelling. Rahul Gandhi visited Poonch in the aftermath of the devastating shelling and visited the bereaved families. He asked us to prepare a list of school-going children who lost one or both parents, especially the breadwinners, and accordingly we submitted the list to him." 

He said the party has a list of 22 such children in the Poonch district alone, and more such children might be included at the end of the three-day visit.

Rahul Gandhi had met victims in May

Earlier in May, Rahul Gandhi had met the bereaved families who were affected by Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. During his visit, Rahul Gandhi called the shelling a major tragedy, noting that many lives had been lost and significant damage had occurred. He said he had spoken with the affected people to understand their concerns, and that they had asked him to raise the issue at the national level, which he assured them he would do.

"It was a big tragedy and many people have lost their lives. There has been huge damage. I spoke with the people and tried to understand their problems. They have requested me to raise this issue on the national level, and I will do that," Gandhi said. 

Poonch had witnessed heavy shelling during Op Sindoor 

The Pakistan Army had resorted to heavy shelling in several sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, which was effectively responded to by the Indian Army. Poonch district alone accounted for 13 civilian deaths among 28 fatalities in the Pakistani shelling and drone attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The intensity of Pakistani shelling was increased following India's military strikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 under Operation Sindoor.

In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on May 7 on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke. The military strikes were carried out under 'Operation Sindoor' two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.