26 personnel killed: AJK police blame JAAC
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Police have accused the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of deliberately targeting law enforcement agencies during recent unrest in the region.
AJK Police spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Riaz Mughal made the allegations during a press conference on Wednesday.
He said 26 police and other law enforcement personnel had been killed in incidents of unrest across AJK during 2026. He claimed that another 157 personnel had suffered serious injuries, while 629 others sustained minor injuries.
Mughal did not provide details of each incident linked to the reported casualties.
He questioned how the JAAC protests could be described as peaceful if law enforcement personnel were being killed and injured.
The police spokesperson said state institutions did not target people without reason. He claimed that security personnel took action against individuals who attacked law enforcement agencies.
His comments came after clashes between protesters and security personnel in Rawalakot and Mirpur earlier this week. The incidents reportedly resulted in several casualties.
The JAAC has been protesting for several weeks over various public demands. One of its key demands is the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir.
Mughal alleged that protesters had attacked police and Rangers personnel during the unrest. He also claimed that some people had been held captive and that their identity documents had been taken.
The SSP urged people to visit AJK and observe the situation independently. He said the nature of the protests and the activities of those participating should be assessed impartially.
Mughal further alleged that some protesters were equipped with firearms and claimed that police and other law enforcement personnel had been targeted by snipers.
During the briefing, police officials displayed weapons they said had been recovered during operations against protesters. Mughal claimed the weapons had been used against law enforcement personnel.
He also referred to previous clashes involving the JAAC.
According to Mughal, a confrontation on May 11, 2024, occurred when police attempted to stop protesters travelling towards Muzaffarabad. He said one police officer was killed and around 60 personnel suffered serious injuries. He added that 174 other policemen sustained minor injuries.
The SSP also cited unrest in October 2025. He claimed that three police officers were killed, 52 personnel suffered serious injuries and another 357 were injured in the incidents.
Mughal described the protesters involved in violent incidents as anti-state elements. He alleged that some were involved in activities that amounted to terrorism.
He further claimed that around 70 per cent of the protesters were criminals, including alleged drug dealers who had joined the protests under the JAAC banner. The allegations were made by the police official and were not independently verified.
The police spokesperson’s remarks came amid heightened tensions in AJK following several days of protests and clashes.
The government has also alleged that militant elements linked to a foreign agenda and allegedly backed by Indian funding were attempting to fuel unrest in the region.
