MUZAFFARABAD — The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police have leveled serious allegations against the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), claiming the protest movement is operating under a “hidden agenda” to destabilize the region.
The accusations follow a series of weekend raids across the territory. Police officials confirmed the arrest of several key activists, reporting the recovery of sophisticated weaponry—including assault rifles and ammunition—from those in custody.
“These aren’t just protesters,” a senior police official said. “We’ve recovered hardware that has no place in a civil demonstration. This points to a coordinated effort to incite violence rather than demand rights.”
The JAAC, which has led widespread protests over electricity tariffs and flour subsidies, has dismissed the claims as a state-sponsored smear campaign. Leadership within the committee maintains that the police are fabricating evidence to justify a crackdown on legitimate dissent. They argue that the weapons were planted to delegitimize a movement that has successfully mobilized thousands of citizens across Muzaffarabad and surrounding districts.
The tension marks a sharp escalation in the standoff between the administration and the committee. For weeks, the region has seen shutter-down strikes and traffic blockades, paralyzing daily life. The government’s move to frame the protest leaders as militants signals a shift from negotiation to containment.
Analysts are divided on the impact of these arrests. While the government frames the move as a necessary step to restore public order, local observers warn that labeling the JAAC as a security threat could backfire. By criminalizing the leadership, the state risks turning a policy dispute into a broader, more volatile civil rights confrontation.
With the arrests confirmed, the administration is now bracing for potential backlash. Security forces remain on high alert, and the coming days will reveal whether the government’s hardline approach successfully suppresses the movement or fuels a deeper, more defiant pushback from the streets.
