MUZAFFARABAD / RAWALAKOT, Pakistan-administered Kashmir (June 8) — A communications blackout and widespread internet disruptions have made it difficult to independently verify a series of claims emerging from Rawalakot, where tensions have escalated ahead of a region-wide shutdown call issued for June 9.
According to local sources, journalists, and social media reports from Rawalakot in Poonch Division, protests intensified following the killing of Shahzaib Habib, a local activist and close associate of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) core member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri.
Local accounts claim that Shahzaib Habib was attacked shortly after midnight on June 6 when unidentified individuals allegedly rammed his vehicle before opening fire. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of the case at the time of publication.
The killing sparked protests in Rawalakot days before the June 9 shutdown call, which had originally been announced across various parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Unverified Casualty Claims Circulate Online
As internet and mobile data services remain severely restricted in parts of the region, numerous unverified claims have circulated on social media regarding casualties in Rawalakot.
Some local accounts and online activists have alleged that hundreds of people may have been killed or injured during clashes. Figures circulating online vary significantly, with some posts claiming that more than 600 members or supporters of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee were killed.
The Azadi Times has not independently verified these claims.
Due to communication disruptions, restricted access to affected areas, and the absence of verifiable official records, the reported casualty figures cannot currently be confirmed. Independent journalists and local correspondents continue to gather information from multiple sources.
Reports of Damage to JKJAAC Office
Meanwhile, reports from Muzaffarabad indicate that the office of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee was allegedly raided, damaged, and subsequently sealed.
Images and videos shared online appear to show damage to the premises; however, the full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
Additional security personnel have reportedly been deployed at major intersections and public squares in Muzaffarabad, although no confirmed reports of fatalities have emerged from the capital.
Shutdown Expected Across Multiple Regions
Shutdowns are expected across Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Mirpur, and other areas on June 9 following calls by political and civil society groups.
Among those publicly supporting the shutdown call is Shaukat Nawaz Mir, who has urged residents to participate in what organizers describe as a protest for civil and political rights.
Businesses, transport services, and educational institutions are expected to remain affected if the shutdown proceeds as planned.
Verification Challenges
The ongoing disruption of internet and mobile data services has created significant challenges for journalists, emergency responders, businesses, and residents attempting to access information.
The Azadi Times is continuing to monitor developments through local correspondents, civil society contacts, eyewitness accounts, and available documentation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available and independently verified.
Rawalakot Protests: Internet Blackout Obscures Reports as Kashmir Shutdown Looms
