Rangers Official Martyred During AJK Security Clearance Operation

ISLAMABAD: (Special Reporter) – A Rangers official was martyred and at least 11 security personnel were injured in separate incidents during operations to restore traffic flow and remove road blockades in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday, according to security officials.

Officials alleged that armed supporters of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) opened fire on civilians and law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot while also resisting a security operation to clear the Kotli-Tatarkhel Highway.

According to officials, the first incident took place near the Matial Mira bus terminal in Rawalakot on the morning of July 14. Armed individuals reportedly opened fire in a civilian area before targeting police officers who had arrived to restore order. Rangers personnel deployed to support the police also came under attack with what officials described as modern weapons.

During the exchange of fire, Rangers official Naik Imtiyaz Ali was martyred while performing his duty.

In a separate operation, security forces moved into Baloch Bazaar to remove barricades and reopen the main Kotli-Tatarkhel Highway, which officials said had been blocked by armed groups. The road closure had disrupted public transport and the supply of food and other essential goods.

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Officials said security personnel faced armed resistance while attempting to clear the route, leaving 11 members of the security forces injured. The operation remained underway to restore access for residents and ensure the smooth movement of traffic and supply vehicles.

Authorities maintained that protecting civilians and reopening key transport links remain the primary objectives of the ongoing operation. Security analysts said the reported use of sophisticated weapons and explosives indicated an organised and planned attack, urging strict legal action against those responsible.

The latest violence follows weeks of tensions in AJK involving the banned JAAC and security forces. The AJK government outlawed the group in June, citing concerns over public order and security. The committee had been protesting reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees while demanding wider political and economic reforms.

Earlier clashes in Rawalakot in June claimed the lives of civilians and law enforcement personnel. Authorities accused armed JAAC supporters of attacking security forces, while the committee alleged that security personnel had opened fire on peaceful demonstrators. The unrest was followed by arrests, internet restrictions and road closures across the region.