Rawalakot Clashes
MUZAFFARABAD: At least seven civilians were killed in Rawalakot clashes on Sunday between police and protesters linked to the Joint Awami Action Committee, an official confirmed on Monday. Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed the deaths and said four law enforcement personnel were also martyred in the incident.
Authorities said twenty-three policemen were injured and thirty people were taken into custody after tensions escalated in the region. The clash erupted after the death of a trader who was allegedly shot during an earlier confrontation with law enforcement. Protesters later gathered outside Combined Military Hospital Rawalakot, demanding action and refusing to proceed with burial arrangements.
Tear gas and baton charges were used as demonstrators clashed with police, while stone pelting was also reported.
Political Tensions and Crackdown
The AJK government has recently declared the Joint Awami Action Committee a proscribed organisation ahead of planned protests. Security forces have arrested several activists and sealed offices as mobile internet services remain suspended across the area.
Federal paramilitary forces have also been deployed to support local police amid growing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have intensified following disputes over refugee seats in the legislative assembly and demands for political reforms by protesters. The government has accused the group of engaging in violent activities and threatening public order, while the committee has rejected the proscription and continued to press for its demands.
Information flow from the region remains limited due to communication shutdowns, raising concerns among residents and observers about transparency and accountability in the ongoing crisis. Authorities are expected to continue investigations as the situation develops further in coming days ahead.
