Death Toll Rises to 12 as Violent Protests Continue in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Against Government Oppression

The civilian death toll has risen to 12 following a third consecutive day of violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir against the Pakistani government. Sources informed NDTV that at least four people were killed in Dhirkot in Bagh district, while at least two others died in Muzaffarabad and two in Mirpur, with over 200 civilians injured.

Three policemen have also lost their lives in the clashes, and at least nine have sustained injuries.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has been engulfed by massive protests over the past 72 hours, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which claims authorities are denying fundamental rights to citizens. The protests have resulted in a complete shutdown of markets, shops, and local businesses, along with a halt in transport services.

Demonstrators have been throwing stones and pushing large shipping containers, which were strategically placed on bridges to block their march on Muzaffarabad, into the river below. Video footage showed dozens of protesters working together to remove these barricades.

Sources indicated that the JAAC has attributed the deaths in Muzaffarabad to Pakistani Rangers opening fire, while other casualties resulted from heavy shelling by Pakistani security forces, including the Army, on civilians.

Despite the ongoing crackdown, protesters continue their 'long march' on Muzaffarabad with 38 demands. Key among these is the abolition of 12 seats in the PoK Assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which locals argue undermines representative governance.

JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir stated, "Our campaign is for fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years... either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people."

Reports indicate that several caravans of protesters have broken through blockades to reach Muzaffarabad, with images of large crowds circulating on social media.

Mir also issued a warning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's administration, saying that the current strike is merely 'plan A' - a message that people's patience has been exhausted and authorities are now on notice. The JAAC has indicated they have backup plans, including a severe 'plan D'.

Regarding the Muzaffarabad firing, the JAAC has called for the Muslim Conference - allegedly backed by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence - to be designated a terrorist group. They are also demanding financial compensation and government jobs for families of those killed.

The committee has insisted that this compensation must equal the amount paid to families of two police officers killed during the protests. Their seven-point list of demands includes the release of protesters arrested in Kashmir and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, a demonstration has been scheduled for Thursday outside the Pakistan High Commission in London by a group called 'Friends of Joint Awami Action Committee'.

Islamabad has responded to the protests with significant force. Heavily-armed patrols have conducted flag marches through PoK towns, according to Pakistani news website Dawn, and thousands of troops have been redirected from the adjacent Punjab province.

Sources revealed that an additional 1,000 troops have been deployed from the capital, Islamabad. The Pakistani government has also restricted internet access throughout the region.

The current unrest follows a tragic incident last week when thirty civilians were killed after China-made J-17 fighter jets dropped Chinese-made LS-6 laser-guided bombs on a village in the country's remote Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

These deaths provoked outrage among local communities already concerned about increased terror attacks in recent years. The rise in terrorist activity in Khyber coincides with banned groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed establishing new bases in the area following India's Operation Sindoor.