Kupwara (Karnah), May 21 (KNO): In a gesture of goodwill and solidarity, Indian Army extended immediate assistance to residents of Chota Gaon Mohalla at Ibkot village in Karnah sector, after a local mosque suffered damage during unprovoked shelling from across the Line of Control (LoC).
The cross-border shelling, initiated by Pakistani forces, caused structural damage to the mosque. The corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets on the roof were torn apart, a solar panel system was destroyed, and the prayer matting inside the mosque was damaged.
Responding swiftly, the Indian Army helped restore the mosque by repairing the roof, reinstating the solar energy system, and replacing the prayer matting, allowing the place of worship to resume its religious and community functions. The aid was part of the Army's continued humanitarian outreach in border areas affected by conflict.
Grateful villagers expressed deep appreciation for the Army’s timely support. Local elders commended the Army not just for its protective presence in the volatile border region, but also for its efforts to stand by civilians in times of crisis.
“One of the shells directly hit the mosque,” a resident told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “The roof was blown off, and everything inside was damaged. The Army provided new tin sheets, a solar panel, and matting. We are thankful.”
He added that several homes were also damaged during the shelling and appealed for the construction of more bunkers in the area to protect civilians from future incidents—(KNO)