Two Killed as Security Forces Move to Disperse Protest Sit-in in PaJK

MUZAFFARABAD, July 9, 2026: Two people were killed and several others injured after security forces moved to disperse a protest sit-in at Koteri (Kotli Dheri) in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (PaJK) on Thursday morning, amid continuing tensions between the authorities and the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC). The total death has been surged to 41.

The deaths have been confirmed by local authorities and representatives of the protest movement, although the circumstances surrounding the incident remain disputed.

According to local reports, security forces launched an operation to clear the sit-in from two directions, advancing towards the protest site from Bagh and Rawalakot. During the operation, firing and the use of tear gas were reported, after which violence erupted at the scene.

Among those killed was 20-year-old Wajid Siddique, a resident of Bari Bari, Chitrah Topi. According to local sources, he sustained gunshot wounds during the operation and was being transported to a hospital in Bagh for treatment but succumbed to his injuries on the way.

The second victim was identified as Sardar Nasir, son of Sardar Nazir and a resident of Makhiyala. Local reports said he died at the scene after sustaining a gunshot wound to the neck.

Officials have confirmed that two people were killed and others injured during the operation. Poonch Division Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan said a law enforcement convoy transporting supplies to Rawalakot encountered a road blockade near Shujaabad. According to the official account, supporters of the banned JKJAAC allegedly opened fire after security personnel attempted to remove the obstruction, prompting an exchange of gunfire. He said no law enforcement personnel were injured.

The JKJAAC has disputed the authorities’ version of events. Representatives of the movement maintain that security forces opened fire while attempting to disperse the sit-in. The organisation has called for accountability and said it will continue its protest campaign.

Speaking to BBC Urdu earlier, JKJAAC leader Akhtar Abbasi said the committee would not withdraw its demands and that its leadership would announce its future course of action following the latest developments.

The incident comes amid weeks of political unrest across Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir, where the JKJAAC has been leading demonstrations over governance reforms, political representation and constitutional issues. Authorities declared the organisation a banned group earlier this year, a decision rejected by its leadership.

As of Thursday afternoon, tension remained high in the area, with reports indicating that security forces continued to maintain a heavy presence around the protest site. The full circumstances surrounding the deaths have not yet been independently established, and no announcement has been made regarding an independent investigation.