Five Killed in Poonch Division as Clashes Erupt Ahead of JKJAAC Long March

RAWALAKOT/BALOCH/TRARKHEL: At least five people were reported killed and several others injured in separate incidents across Poonch Division in Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir between Monday night and Tuesday morning, as tensions continued ahead of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee’s planned long march towards Muzaffarabad on July 15.

The deaths were reported in incidents in Baloch tehsil of Sudhnoti district and at the Rawalakot bus terminal protest sit-in, where local sources said security forces attempted to advance towards protest sites. No official confirmation or detailed statement had been issued by the government, district administration, or relevant security institutions at the time of publication.

According to local sources, a convoy of security forces was moving from Kotli Sarsawa towards Baloch when residents attempted to stop the convoy at Saraan and Baloch. The situation reportedly escalated after security forces opened fire on demonstrators.

Local sources identified four of the deceased in the Baloch incident as Zahid Yasin, a candidate for the Legislative Assembly, Zafar Mughal, Arslan Kabir, and Ehsanullah. They were reported to have died on the spot after being hit by bullets.

Several people were also injured in the firing. Among the seriously wounded were Raqeeb Abid and Aijaz. Local sources said Raqeeb Abid sustained two bullet wounds and was later referred to Rawalpindi for further medical treatment.

A second incident was reported at the protest sit-in near the Rawalakot bus terminal, where security forces reportedly launched an operation against demonstrators. Local sources said Wajid Hayat, a resident of Soon Topa, was shot and injured during the operation and later succumbed to his wounds.

Residents said both heavy and small arms fire was heard during the operation, along with tear gas shelling. Two young men were reportedly injured during the incident. One of them, identified as Nasir, was said to have been shifted to Palandri hospital after receiving initial medical aid.

Following the incidents, the situation across Poonch Division remained highly tense. Local sources reported that a curfew had also been imposed in Trarkhel, while roads were blocked at several locations and security forces continued patrolling in urban areas. Movement between towns was also reported to be severely affected.

The latest violence comes a day before the JKJAAC’s announced July 15 long march towards Muzaffarabad, which the committee declared after the expiry of its July 8 deadline for negotiations with the authorities.

The JKJAAC-led movement, which began around demands for reduced electricity tariffs, subsidised flour, and relief from rising living costs, has since expanded into a broader campaign for governance reforms, political representation, constitutional changes, and public accountability.

Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir has witnessed repeated unrest in recent weeks. Earlier reporting by international media said authorities had deployed additional security forces and suspended internet services during previous rounds of protest, while the government maintained that security measures were aimed at restoring order. The Associated Press reported last month that the PaJK government had banned the Joint Awami Action Committee and detained dozens of supporters amid escalating tensions.

Reuters also reported that protests and strikes had shut down parts of Pakistan-administered Jammu Kashmir in June after deadly clashes in Rawalakot, with rights groups raising concerns over arrests, internet restrictions, and the use of force.

As of Tuesday morning, there was no official confirmation of the five latest reported deaths, the number of injured, or the circumstances surrounding the firing in Baloch and Rawalakot. Local residents and activists have called for immediate medical access for the injured, restraint by security forces, and an independent investigation into the use of live ammunition against civilians.

Tensions remain high across Poonch Division as the July 15 long march approaches.