Rawalakot Civilian Killed: 7 Dead in AJK Police-JAAC Clash

Rawalakot – (Web Desk) – Rawalakot civilian killed count has risen to at least seven after a deadly clash broke out between police and Joint Awami Action Committee protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Four law enforcement personnel were also martyred during the violence.

Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed the death toll to Dawn. He also said that 30 people were arrested and 23 policemen were injured during the clashes.

The trouble started on Friday night when a local trader was allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcement. His death sparked massive outrage in the area.

His family initially planned to bury him on Saturday. But they later brought the body back to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalakot for a post-mortem. The funeral was delayed until Sunday.

Even though the body was placed in the hospital mortuary, no post-mortem was carried out. Scores of people gathered outside the CMH and started a sit-in protest.

When police arrived to break up the crowd, tensions exploded. Riot police used batons and tear gas. Protesters responded by throwing stones. Officials say the demonstrators also attacked the CMH building.

The family refused to bury the trader until the government withdrew its notification banning the JAAC.

AJK authorities had declared JAAC a proscribed organisation on Friday, just days before a major protest the group had planned for June 9. The government accused it of terrorism and threatening peace in the region.

On Saturday, police arrested scores of JAAC leaders and activists across AJK. The group’s head office was also sealed.

At the heart of the dispute are 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. These seats are set aside for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC claims these seats allow Pakistani political parties to unfairly influence government formation in Muzaffarabad.

Mobile data services remain suspended across AJK. Authorities have advised people not to visit the region until June 20 due to security concerns. Federal paramilitary forces have also been sent to support the local police.