According to the Dawn report, the clashes broke out after tensions flared over the death of a trader. “The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law enforcers on Saturday. The following day, protesters and law enforcement agencies clashed outside a Rawalakot hospital where the victim’s body was brought, resulting in the deaths of at least four policemen and seven protesters,” it said on Tuesday.

Officials have accused the protesters of attacking the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalakot on Sunday.

#WATCH | Delhi | Responding to ANI’s question on protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We continue to see in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover up its own… pic.twitter.com/mgP3qC5M55

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2026

The JAAC is demanding abolition of reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees living in PoK. While the group had earlier called for civic and governance reforms, it is now demanding constitutional changes, such as the abolition of refugee seats.

India commented on protests in PoK last year as well. In October 2025, while responding to questions, the MEA spokesperson had said: “We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach, and systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation.” He had said that Pakistan should be held accountable for its “horrific human rights violations”.

India has always maintained that Pakistan has been in “illegal occupation” of parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.