India on Tuesday, 9 June sharply condemned Pakistan for what it called a deliberate campaign of fake news and fabricated videos, accusing Islamabad of attempting to conceal its own human rights abuses amid a violent crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The rebuke came from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and follows reports of at least 12 deaths — including eight protesters and four security personnel — in clashes centred on Rawalakot city.

What India Said

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said India has observed a consistent pattern of disinformation emanating from Pakistan. '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 failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses,' Jaiswal said. He added that there are reports of police brutality in which several people have been killed and many more injured, and expressed hope that the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its 'misdeeds and abuses.'

Ground Situation in PoK

The clashes erupted between members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot, according to local media reports. Local authorities confirmed that several security officials were also injured in the confrontations. Following the violence, strict security arrangements were put in place across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), with authorities keeping a close watch on the situation, according to leading Pakistani daily The News International.

JAAC Banned Ahead of Protests

The unrest follows the PoJK government's decision to designate the JAAC as a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws, days before its planned protest on 9 June. The European Times, citing local activists and movement members, reported that tensions sharply escalated after the ban and the rollout of extensive security measures ahead of a planned long march. Protest leaders also alleged that internet services across PoK had been suspended since the night of 5 June, severely disrupting communication throughout the region.

Deaths Fuel Wider Agitation

Public outrage intensified following reports of the deaths of Shahzaib Habib and Amjid Kashmiri, both affiliated with the JAAC, during confrontations linked to the demonstrations. Their deaths have become a rallying point for the movement, with protesters accusing security forces of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. Notably, the protest movement has expanded well beyond Rawalakot, with demonstrations and shutter-down strikes reported in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Tata Pani, and Plandari. In Plandari, local activists reportedly blocked key access routes as part of the widening agitation.

International Accountability in Focus

India's call for international accountability signals a broader diplomatic pressure strategy. This is not the first time New Delhi has raised the issue of human rights conditions in PoK at official briefings, but the specificity of the current charges — named casualties, internet shutdowns, and a banned civil society group — lends the latest statement added weight. How the international community responds, particularly multilateral human rights bodies, will be closely watched in the days ahead.