Web Desk: Four police officers in Azad Kashmir were allegedly abducted on their way to duty in Rawalakot, according to claims circulated by local sources, amid heightened tensions surrounding an ongoing protest linked to a group authorities describe as a banned Joint Awami Action Committee.
The claims, also alleged that public participation in the sit-in protest had remained limited, prompting escalating tensions in the area.
According to the claims, the four officers were intercepted while travelling from their homes to report for duty in Rawalakot.
The officers were identified as Selection Grade Constable Shahid Shafiq, Selection Grade Constable Muhammad Sagheer, Constable Muhammad Ishtiaq and Constable Zeeshan Ishaq.
The reports further alleged that the officers remained in the custody of individuals associated with the protest movement at the time the claims were circulated. No official confirmation was immediately available from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Police or the local administration.
The allegations also accused protest leaders, including Khawaja Mehran, of attempting to disrupt law and order in Rawalakot following what the sources described as poor public participation in the sit-in.
However, Reuters could not independently verify those assertions, and representatives of the Joint Awami Action Committee were not immediately available for comment.
The claims further referred to an earlier incident in which an assistant sub-inspector was allegedly abducted and assaulted. They also alleged that the same group had previously attacked the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Those allegations could not be independently verified.
The circulated statements asserted that public support for the protest movement had declined and claimed that many residents, political observers and even former supporters had distanced themselves from the group.
Those characterisations represent the views contained in the circulated material and have not been independently verified.
The situation in Rawalakot remained fluid, and authorities had not issued a comprehensive public statement addressing all of the allegations at the time of publication.
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