Rawalakot crackdown leaves two dead in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir

Security forces in Rawalakot, Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir, launched an early‑morning operation to disperse a sit‑in protest at the Eidgah site. The action resulted in at least two fatalities, one identified as Naeem Ameen of Islam Pura, Phalian, and injured between ten and twelve young demonstrators.

The crackdown caused a near‑total communication blackout in the town and reports of vehicles carrying food and essential supplies being halted, leading to shortages for residents. Amnesty International condemned the use of excessive force and the designation of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee as a proscribed organisation, calling the measures a serious breach of human rights ahead of regional elections.

The incident occurs amid an ongoing eight‑day standoff in the disputed region, with protest organisers stating that their demands remain unmet and negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough.