RAWALAKOT – Azad Jammu Kashmir police said “coordinated and limited” security operation ended siege of CMH Rawalakot, but conflicting accounts have emerged over the scale of casualties following a night of intense clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir’s spokesperson said the operation was launched after “armed and violent elements” allegedly linked to the banned Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee surrounded the hospital, opened fire on security forces, and disrupted medical services.
Four personnel of the police and Frontier Constabulary were killed during the clashes, while three members of the banned group died as a result of what it described as “indiscriminate firing by their own side.” Several others were injured.
Authorities said protesters set fires at multiple locations, damaged public and private property, and attempted to destabilize law and order in the area. Officials said the operation conducted between the night of June 7 and 8 was “professional, targeted and restrained,” adding that normal services at CMH have now been restored and roads reopened.
However, these claims have been strongly disputed by representatives of the Joint Awami Action Committee, who insist the demonstration outside the hospital was peaceful. A committee member, Ilyas Khan, alleged that law enforcement personnel used force against unarmed protesters and opened direct fire, resulting in multiple casualties. He also claimed that more than 40 injured individuals were shifted to CMH and several people remain missing.
At least five civilians were killed in the violence amid discrepancies in official and local accounts of the incident. The unrest follows the killing of a young man, Shahzaib, in Rawalakot, which triggered widespread protests. Police have registered an FIR against unidentified armed masked individuals, while protesters allege that Shahzaib was killed by police.
After his death, protesters placed his body outside CMH Rawalakot and launched a sit-in, demanding the reversal of the government’s decision to ban the Joint Awami Action Committee before proceeding with burial arrangements. The situation escalated into confrontations between protesters and security forces in the following days.
According to police, dozens have been detained across various parts of the region in connection with the unrest. Officials said key members of the Joint Awami Action Committee, including core committee representatives, were among those arrested. A senior official in the home department also confirmed that over 250 individuals have been identified for possible action under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with restrictions being placed on their movement and financial transactions.
Meanwhile, internet services remain suspended in Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad for the past two days, and heavy contingents of police, Frontier Constabulary, and Rangers have been deployed at sensitive locations, including key government buildings.
In Muzaffarabad, authorities have imposed Section 144 ahead of a planned protest call, with public announcements urging citizens to avoid gatherings and comply with restrictions.
The crisis comes amid ongoing tensions over demands by the Joint Awami Action Committee, including the controversial issue of 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees.
Pakistan raises concerns over UK MPs support for Banned Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee
