At least eight people were killed after Pakistani Rangers allegedly opened fire on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Monday, escalating tensions ahead of a planned mass march to Muzaffarabad on July 15. According to local reports, Rangers first fired tear gas shells and later opened fire on demonstrators gathered at the Rawalakot bus stand, where a large number of women had assembled.
Fresh firing was also reported from Sudhanoti as security forces attempted to disperse protesters. The crackdown comes a day before what organisers have described as a decisive march to the regional capital, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to participate.
The security operation unfolded across several parts of PoK as Pakistani authorities sought to prevent demonstrators from advancing towards Muzaffarabad. Visuals from Rawalakot showed Rangers using tear gas to disperse large crowds before opening fire as protesters continued to move forward.
Thick clouds of tear gas engulfed the area while civilians, including women, fled for safety. Several protesters were seen carrying injured people away from the clashes as security personnel continued their operation.
Similar incidents were reported in Sudhanoti, suggesting the crackdown extended beyond a single location.
The latest violence marks a significant escalation in the anti-government movement that has gained momentum across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over the past several weeks.
Large-scale demonstrations have been held across Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kotli, Mirpur, Hattian Bala and several other districts.
Mass march to Muzaffarabad
Protesters have maintained sit-ins near the Line of Control (LoC) for weeks while mobilising supporters from across the region for what organisers describe as a decisive march to Muzaffarabad to press their 38-point charter of demands.
Their demands include subsidised electricity and wheat, employment opportunities, improved governance, greater political representation and an end to what they describe as administrative oppression.
Led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the protests initially began over rising electricity tariffs, increasing wheat prices and shortages of essential commodities.
However, the movement has since evolved into a broader campaign against what protesters describe as decades of political discrimination, economic exploitation and the denial of fundamental rights by Islamabad.
'PoK is not part of Pakistan'
Earlier this month, one of the largest demonstrations took place at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, where JAAC leader Sardar Aman Khan declared that "PoK is not part of Pakistan" and accused Islamabad of exploiting the region while denying its residents their rights.
He also alleged that Pakistani authorities were attempting to weaken the movement by blocking food supplies and restricting the movement of essential commodities.
Protesters have repeatedly warned that continued repression could push the region into a deeper political crisis.
Instead of opening negotiations, Pakistani authorities have intensified their response by banning the JAAC under anti-terrorism laws, registering criminal cases against protest leaders, suspending internet services in several areas and setting up roadblocks to prevent demonstrators from reaching Muzaffarabad.
Protest leaders have also alleged that activists have been detained and that excessive force has been used against unarmed civilians participating in peaceful demonstrations.
India criticises Pakistan
India has strongly criticised Pakistan's handling of the unrest, describing the protests as the result of decades of "systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression" in territories under Pakistan's illegal occupation.
The Ministry of External Affairs has accused Islamabad of responding to legitimate public grievances with police brutality, internet shutdowns, restrictions on the supply of food and medicines, and the use of lethal force against civilians.
New Delhi has also called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for alleged human rights violations in the region.
With fresh fatalities reported just hours before the planned Muzaffarabad march, tensions remain high across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Protest organisers have vowed to proceed with the mobilisation despite the crackdown, setting the stage for a potentially larger confrontation between demonstrators and Pakistani security forces.
