AJK information secretary says 7 law enforcement personnel martyred in recent unrest

Seven law enforcement personnel, including police and Rangers, were killed during recent unrest in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region, Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif announced Monday.

The protests, led by the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), have been ongoing for weeks. The group demands the abolition of 12 seats in the local legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir.

Clashes erupted between protesters and law enforcement in Rawalakot and Mirpur last week, resulting in casualties. Amid this tension, regional elections are underway in three phases. The PPP has alleged rigging in the July 27 elections in Mirpur and the Aug 2 elections in Muzaffarabad divisions.

During a televised address on Monday, Hanif referenced a July 27 press conference where a police official displayed weapons allegedly recovered from JAAC members. He confirmed the seven personnel had been martyred.

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seven law enforcement personnel, including those of police and Rangers, were martyred during recent unrest in the region.