At least seven civilians and four law enforcement personnel were killed and dozens injured in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, after violent clashes erupted between police and supporters of the recently proscribed Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), officials said on Monday. The confrontation, which unfolded on Sunday, also left more than 20 police officers injured and led to the detention of around 30 people, according to local authorities.
Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed the civilian fatalities, while the Inspector General of Police reported that four personnel were killed when activists allegedly opened fire on law enforcement teams. Officials described the incident as a major breakdown of order following days of rising tension in the region.
The unrest was triggered by the death of a trader who was reportedly shot during an earlier confrontation with law enforcement. His death sparked a sit-in outside the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalakot, where protesters demanded a post-mortem examination before burial. The situation escalated when police attempted to disperse the gathering, leading to stone-pelting, baton charges, and tear gas deployment, followed by allegations of gunfire from protesters.
Authorities have accused JAAC supporters of attacking state institutions, including the hospital premises, and of engaging in armed resistance. The group, which has been declared a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws, has rejected the ban and continues to demand the abolition of 12 refugee seats in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which it claims distort local political representation.
Tensions have been building for days, with the government launching a crackdown ahead of a planned protest on June 9, including arrests of activists, closure of the JAAC office, and restrictions on mobile data services. Federal paramilitary forces have also been deployed to support local police amid concerns over further escalation.
Officials said order has since been restored, roads reopened, and normal activity resumed, while legal proceedings against those involved in the violence are continuing. The government has urged the public to avoid participation in any activities organised by the banned group and to rely only on official information. Funeral arrangements for the slain security personnel will be conducted with state honours.