Nowshera (Rajouri) [India], May 16 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday visited border villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district and interacted with residents affected by recent hostilities.

The visit follows the ruthless Pakistani shelling in the civilian areas of Jammu and Kashmir post Operation Sindoor, which was conducted on May 7.

The operation was conducted in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Nepali national.

During his visit, Choudhary said the outreach was in line with directions from the Chief Minister to remain present among the people, particularly in sensitive areas.

'These are the directions of the CM that we have to stay among the people. He is also in the border areas,' Choudhary said.

Speaking about the resilience of the local population, he said, 'The people have faced losses, but their spirits are high. The people who talked about having a war were the first ones to run away when there was shelling. But the people living on the border are brave patriots. They faced everything but did not leave.'

Referring to the national leadership's stance, Choudhary added, 'The PM always said that this is not the time for a war, and we also say that nothing can be solved through a war. If we want a war, we should ask the people living on the borders. People sitting in Delhi and Jammu are asking for a war, but the border people know what the consequences are.'

During intense shelling by Pakistan on the morning of May 7, a shell landed behind Christ School in Poonch, run by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, a Christian congregation. The shell hit the home of two students from the school, both lost their lives, and their parents were seriously injured.

Another shell fired from Pakistan struck a Christian Convent of Nuns belonging to the Mother of Carmel congregation. The explosion damaged water tanks and destroyed solar panels.

Amid the shelling, several priests, nuns, school staff, and residents sought safety in an underground hall beneath Christ School.

The Indian Armed Forces responded firmly to the aggression, targeting several military positions across the border. Later, both countries agreed to stop the firing and military action after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart. (ANI)