Mirpur: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday vowed to uphold the writ of the state at all costs, alleging that armed militants, rather than peaceful protesters, were involved in the ongoing unrest in Rawalakot.
Addressing a joint press conference, AJK Secretary Information and IT Muhammad Rashid Hanif and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Irfan Masood Kashfi said peaceful polling in Mirpur Division had frustrated the alleged objectives of the banned Awami Action Committee. They urged the public to rely on verified information and avoid what they described as misleading content circulating on social media and foreign media platforms.
Hanif alleged that armed elements were using women and children as human shields and spreading old or fabricated videos to create confusion. He said attempts were made to disturb peace and undermine the democratic process after the announcement of election results, adding that the government would protect citizens’ right to vote and would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.
DIG Kashfi claimed that armed groups involved in the unrest were equipped with sophisticated weapons, including M4 rifles, submachine guns and Kalashnikovs. He said intelligence reports indicated the presence of trained snipers and that investigations were underway to identify their facilitators and sources of funding.
The DIG further claimed that arrested suspects had revealed offers of financial rewards for carrying out armed attacks. He said such individuals would be dealt with strictly under the law, adding that security forces had shown restraint and responded only in self-defence.
Kashfi said one Rangers personnel was martyred while five security officials, including a senior officer, were injured during firing allegedly carried out by armed groups. He added that an armed suspect had been arrested in Rawalakot and an M8 weapon was recovered from his possession. According to preliminary investigations, the suspect had recently returned from abroad and had received sniper training.
The police official 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 action to restore peace and maintain public order.