MUZAFFARABAD: Senior Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police officials on Wednesday accused the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of using armed groups to disrupt the region’s elections, saying the recovery of sophisticated weapons pointed to an organised campaign rather than a peaceful protest movement.
Addressing a press conference alongside other senior police officials, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police spokesperson and SSP Poonch Khawar Ali Shaukat said groups linked to the committee had launched coordinated attacks on law enforcement personnel at several locations in Rawalakot over the past two days.
“The narrative being spread on social media that this is a peaceful movement is completely contrary to the facts on the ground,” a senior police officer said.
He said one Rangers official was martyred and around 15 police and other law enforcement personnel were injured after armed individuals opened fire on security forces deployed to maintain peace.
According to police, the attackers used heavy and modern weapons while operating in separate groups across the city. Officials said the nature of the attacks indicated planning and raised questions about the group’s wider connections.
“This is not an ordinary organisation,” the officer said. “The manner in which different groups attacked the forces with modern weapons shows that they are working under a specific agenda to disturb peace and damage the social fabric of Azad Kashmir.”
Police said several suspects involved in the violence had been arrested during targeted operations. Authorities displayed pistols, ammunition and automatic firearms recovered from those detained.
“An American-made automatic weapon and other sophisticated arms have been recovered from their possession,” the officer said.
Officials stressed that law enforcement agencies had exercised restraint and responded only where personnel or public installations came under attack.
“The police and law enforcement institutions are showing patience, but when armed groups attack the forces, it becomes our legal responsibility to act in accordance with the law,” the officer said.
Authorities urged residents to reject misinformation, remain peaceful and cooperate with the administration to ensure that the electoral process continues without disruption.
Shaukat said law enforcement agencies had exercised restraint at every stage. However, when armed individuals targeted security forces with sophisticated weapons, action in accordance with the law became unavoidable.
According to the officials, over the past two days, some armed individuals took up positions inside buildings and opened fire on police and other security personnel.
The officials said police and other law enforcement agencies carried out operations at multiple locations, arresting several suspects. Pistols, automatic weapons, ammunition and other firearms were recovered from those detained, and the seized weapons were displayed to the media during the press conference.
The SSP said attempts were being made on social media to portray the movement as peaceful, but the recovery of weapons and the attacks on security forces contradicted that narrative.
He said police would continue to act in accordance with the law and take indiscriminate legal action against anyone found involved in disturbing law and order.
