The shelling of Rajouri and Poonch towns by Pakistan, following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, has exposed a critical vulnerability in civilian safety infrastructure along the LoC. For the first time in years, town centres-previously considered safe from direct strikes-have come under fire, resulting in the tragic deaths of 16 civilians and injuries to over 50. This marks a significant escalation, and the Government’s response must be swift and strategic. The proposal to construct community bunkers in Rajouri and Poonch towns is not only necessary but overdue. Past security planning focused mainly on forward villages, presuming that urban centres were beyond the range or intent of cross-border attacks. This assumption has now been tragically invalidated. The absence of bunkers in these towns forced residents to face incoming mortar shells without protection-turning homes and markets into death traps. Immediate construction of community shelters is imperative and should be executed urgently, along with public awareness programmes on emergency response during such attacks.
Moreover, the presence of unexploded ordnance in civilian areas introduces another layer of risk. The defusing of these shells must be treated as a top priority. Simultaneously, authorities must intensify community outreach, educating people on recognising and reporting unexploded devices. This cannot be left to chance or individual awareness. While the announcement of ex gratia relief for victims and damage assessment for compensation is commendable, execution must be time-bound and transparent. There should be no delay in critical aid for those whose lives and livelihoods have been upended. Psychological support and trauma counselling should also be considered, especially for children. There is an urgent need to reassess border town readiness-both militarily and from a civilian protection standpoint. Security cannot remain static in a dynamic threat environment. Investment in long-term defence infrastructure, rapid evacuation plans, and regular drills in high-risk zones must become routine. The shelling of Rajouri and Poonch is a wake-up call. The safety of citizens in border areas cannot be treated as peripheral to national security. Protecting lives must be at the centre of both policy and planning going forward.
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