By The Azadi Times | Muzaffarabad | October 5, 2025 At least ten people, including seven civilians and three police personnel, were killed and more than 300 injured during a week of violent clashes in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), highlighting the deepening public anger over governance failures and political neglect in the region.
The violence, which erupted between September 29 and October 3, spread across Muzaffarabad, Dheerkot, and Mirpur, as protesters clashed with security forces during demonstrations calling for economic reforms, lower electricity tariffs, and greater political autonomy.
Local reports confirm that three civilians lost their lives in Muzaffarabad, two in Dheerkot, one in Palak (Dadyal), and one in Khaliqabad (Mirpur). Meanwhile, three police officials were also killed in Dheerkot amid heavy confrontation.
More than 300 people sustained injuries, including over 50 in Muzaffarabad and 120 in Dheerkot, with dozens more hurt in Riyan (Kotli), Palak, and Khaliqabad. Many of the injured were struck by tear-gas shells or rubber bullets, while others were wounded in stampedes and accidents during the long protest march.
Among the wounded was Umair Khalid, a young protester from Baloch, who suffered a severe leg fracture after an accident in Tararkhal while returning from the march.
Injured police personnel were transported to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, while scores of civilians were admitted to hospitals across the region for emergency care.
Public Anger and Silence From Authorities
The unrest, one of the deadliest episodes in recent years, reflects growing frustration in Azad Jammu and Kashmir over rising inflation, unemployment, and the perception that Islamabad has ignored the region’s constitutional and economic grievances.
Residents and civil society groups have condemned what they describe as the use of excessive force by police, while rights activists have urged the government to launch an independent inquiry into the deaths.
For many in AJK, the recent protests are not merely about utilities or taxes — they are a symbol of political suffocation and a call for the fulfillment of long-standing promises of autonomy and accountability.
As tension continues to simmer, observers warn that unless meaningful dialogue begins between the government and regional representatives, the situation could trigger a broader crisis across the mountainous territory that remains at the heart of the Kashmir conflict.
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