Pak Army guns down 16 protesters in POK’s Rawalakot:Over 37 injured as security forces open fire at rally

At least 16 protesters were killed and more than 37 others injured after Pakistani Army personnel and Rangers allegedly opened fire on a large crowd during a protest rally in Rawalakot in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on Thursday, according to sources. The rally was held to protest rising prices, electricity tariffs and what demonstrators described as the denial of basic political and economic rights. The incident comes amid growing unrest across POK, where protests over economic hardship and governance issues have intensified in recent days. Protests spread as anger grows According to local accounts, tens of thousands of people had gathered at Rawalakot’s Eidgah Ground when security personnel opened fire. Witnesses reported scenes of panic as people fled the area, while hospitals struggled to handle the large number of injured protesters. The shootings triggered fresh demonstrations in several towns, including Khai Gala, where markets were shut, and residents marched against the crackdown. Women, children and elderly people also joined the protests, demanding justice for those killed. Authorities have imposed internet restrictions in several areas, while protesters continue to demand affordable electricity, subsidised wheat and rice, and greater political and economic rights. Crackdown intensifies; India condemns killings The latest violence follows days of unrest after authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group leading protests over economic and political grievances. Security forces have reportedly carried out arrests, imposed a Rs 1 crore bounty on protest organisers, tightened movement restrictions and suspended internet services in parts of the region. Sources said that since the unrest began on June 5, a total of 53 civilians have died during the crackdown across POK, including the 16 killed in Rawalakot. Despite the crackdown, protest leaders have vowed to continue their movement, saying people are demanding basic economic relief, jobs, healthcare and democratic rights. India has strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a “massacre”. New Delhi said the incident highlighted Pakistan’s continued denial of fundamental rights to people living in territories under its control and called on the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for the violence. ​