Farhan Tariq / Muzaffarabad
Reports have emerged of an operation launched by security forces early Thursday morning against the sit-ins in Rawalakot, which have been ongoing for 153 days. The protests were organized by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC)—a group declared an outlawed organization by the government in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
According to JAAC activists, security forces have advanced toward the Matyalmarah bus terminal in Rawalakot and other protest sites, taking up positions in several areas.
Umar Nazir, a core committee member of the JAAC, stated that the protest sites were attacked from all four sides, and that several individuals have been injured as a result of drone strikes.
“A state of war has been imposed upon us,” said Umar Nazir, adding that “drone attacks have been ongoing for the past two to three hours.”
Local journalist Ajmal Shaheen has confirmed reports of five civilian deaths. He noted that security forces advanced toward ‘D-Chowk’ and the bus terminal at approximately 6:00 AM.
According to Ajmal Shaheen, those killed include Ehtesham (from Chamba Nar), Atif Noor (from Chamba Nar), Adil (from Mang Mor), and Ahsan Tariq (from Nanota). The identity of the fifth victim has not yet been established.
He further reported that more than a dozen civilians have sustained injuries. However, these claims regarding the number of casualties, the injured, and the drone strikes have not been independently verified.
A video is also circulating on social media showing a house near the bus terminal; it is claimed that the house caught fire as a result of an alleged drone strike by security forces. This claim, too, has not been independently verified.
According to local journalist Ajmal Shahin, mobile services in the vicinity of the bus terminal are disrupted, making it difficult to contact people in the area or independently verify the situation. He noted that conflicting reports are emerging from the area, and access to the site is currently not possible.
Attempts to reach the authorities regarding this situation have so far been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, announcements are being made in the mosques of Rawalakot, urging citizens to immediately head toward the sit-in at D-Chowk.
At the government level, no official press release has been issued yet regarding the ongoing operation in Rawalakot, the casualties, the injured, or the alleged drone strikes.
This operation in Rawalakot comes at a time when the political and administrative situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir remains consistently tense, following months of ongoing sit-ins organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
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