PoJK's Rawalakot under 'curfew-like conditions' for 11 days: JKJAAC

The JKJAAC reports Rawalakot in PoJK is under 'curfew-like conditions' for 11 days amid a region-wide strike. The group alleges security crackdowns and blockades on essentials but says public morale remains strong as protests continue.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) has claimed that the city of Rawalakot in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has remained under what it described as "curfew-like conditions" for the past 11 days, while a region-wide shutdown and wheel-jam strike has continued across PoJK for 10 consecutive days. In a post shared on X, the JKJAAC stated that peaceful sit-ins organised by protesters remain active on all four sides of Rawalakot, with residents continuing to support the movement's demands despite growing restrictions and disruptions to daily life.

Crackdown and Restrictions by Authorities

The group alleged that security forces carried out a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators arriving in convoys from Neelum Valley. However, it stated that no casualties had been reported and that the sit-in protests continued despite the operation. According to the committee, authorities also imposed restrictions near the Sonu area, where Punjab Police allegedly established a nighttime blockade. Protest organisers claimed that travellers were prevented from carrying medicines, food supplies, and other essential items into the region. Reports cited by the group suggested that numerous vehicles were stopped and denied permission to transport relief materials.

Public Morale Remains Strong Despite Strike Impact

The ongoing strike has left markets shuttered, roads blocked, and public movement severely restricted across parts of the region. Despite these conditions, the JKJAAC asserted that public morale remains strong and that support for the protest movement has not diminished.

JKJAAC accused Pakistani authorities of attempting to suppress public demands through arrests, pressure tactics, and security measures. It maintained that the movement would continue peacefully until what it described as the people's basic rights are secured. (ANI)

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