Mirpur: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Tuesday alleged that armed militants, rather than peaceful protesters, were involved in the ongoing unrest in Rawalakot, reaffirming that the writ of the state would be maintained at all costs.
Addressing a joint press conference, AJK Secretary Information and IT Muhammad Rashid Hanif and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Irfan Masood Kashfi said peaceful elections in Mirpur Division had frustrated the alleged objectives of the proscribed Awami Action Committee.
Hanif claimed that armed elements were using women and children as human shields and urged the public to avoid relying on what he described as misleading information circulating on social media and foreign media outlets. He alleged that the banned organisation was sharing old and fabricated videos to create confusion and advised citizens to follow only official and verified sources.
The secretary information said attempts were made to create unrest and undermine the democratic process after the announcement of election results. He maintained that the government was committed to protecting citizens’ right to vote and would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.
DIG Irfan Masood Kashfi alleged that armed groups involved in the unrest were equipped with advanced weapons, including M4 rifles, submachine guns and Kalashnikovs. He said intelligence reports suggested the presence of trained snipers and that investigations were underway to identify their facilitators and sources of financial support.
Kashfi claimed that arrested suspects had disclosed offers of financial rewards for carrying out armed attacks with sophisticated weapons. He said such individuals would be dealt with strictly under the law, adding that they were no longer peaceful protesters but armed militants.
According to the DIG, one Rangers personnel was martyred while five security officials, including a senior officer, were injured in firing allegedly carried out by the armed group. He said security forces exercised maximum restraint and responded only in self-defence.
The police official said an armed suspect had been arrested in Rawalakot and an M8 weapon recovered from his possession. He added that preliminary investigations indicated the suspect had recently returned from abroad and had received sniper training.
Kashfi reiterated that the government would not permit any group to challenge the authority of the state or attempt to take control of any area, stressing that law enforcement agencies would continue efforts to restore peace and maintain public order.