Pakistani security forces have reportedly withheld the bodies of civilians killed during a violent crackdown on peaceful sit-ins in the Rawalakot region of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), with a new report describing the practice as among the cruellest aspects of Islamabad's treatment of people in the occupied territory. The findings, cited on 14 November 2026, come as protests in the region continue despite sustained state pressure.

Three Killed, Dozens Injured in Rawalakot Crackdown

Three men — Atif Jardees, Ehtisham Younis, and Adil Rashid — were reportedly killed during the security operation, while at least 18 others sustained serious injuries. Both the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and opposition alliance groups have demanded that the bodies of the deceased be returned to their families without preconditions.

According to the report, the practice of withholding bodies began as far back as June 2026, when relatives of a man identified as Fahad Barkat were allegedly told they would receive his body only after signing a statement declaring him a 'terrorist' killed in a police encounter. Critics have called this a technique of coercion designed to impose a forced narrative on grieving families as the price of a funeral.

Heavy Weapons and Drones Used to Suppress Protests

Organisers of the protests and members of the Kashmiri diaspora have accused Pakistani security forces of deploying heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles, and drones to crush demonstrations across PoJK. The report noted that independent fact-finding in the region has been systematically suppressed, making it increasingly difficult to verify or document the scale of the crackdown.

Notably, the report described the pattern of suppression as a 'working template' — not an isolated incident. 'Sit-ins across different parts of PoJK are cleared before dawn, communications are severed so nothing can be verified, bodies are held back until families accept Islamabad's version, and the civilian movement is reclassified as 'terrorism',' the report stated.

Crackdown Escalation Since June 2026

The escalation reportedly began in earnest after Pakistani authorities invoked anti-terrorism legislation to ban the JAAC on 5 June 2026. In the days that followed, internet and mobile connectivity were cut for approximately a week, more than 100 people were arrested within 48 hours, outsiders were directed to leave the region, and the JAAC's Muzaffarabad office was shut down.

Pakistani journalist Sohrab Barkat was arrested under cybercrime laws for his coverage of the events in PoJK, while activist Shahzaib Habib was reportedly shot on the same night. Despite these measures, protests at Dareek Eidgah in Rawalakot have continued uninterrupted since 10 June 2026, with thousands reportedly turning out again this month.

No Accountability Despite Documented Abuses

The report stated that no investigation or inquiry has been initiated to hold those responsible for the alleged human rights abuses accountable. Critics argue that the absence of accountability, combined with the deliberate isolation of PoJK from outside scrutiny, signals a deeper shift toward military-backed centralisation rather than any attempt at political accommodation.

As the sit-in at Dareek Eidgah enters its fifth month, international human rights observers and the Kashmiri diaspora are expected to intensify calls for independent access to the region and an end to what they describe as state-sanctioned suppression of civilian dissent.