Jammu, June 14: Massive protests were held in Jammu on Saturday as displaced residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and BJP activists condemned the reported killing of civilians during a crackdown by security forces in PoK. Demonstrators gathered to express solidarity with the victims and demand international attention to the alleged human rights violations in the region.

The protesters alleged that more than 20 people were killed and several others injured during police and security force action against demonstrations organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The protests in PoK were reportedly triggered by the banning of the committee and demands related to subsidized essential commodities, affordable electricity, political rights, and restoration of democratic freedoms.

Raising slogans against Pakistan's administration in PoK, the demonstrators accused authorities of suppressing the voices of local residents through force. They called upon the international community and human rights organizations to take cognizance of the situation and ensure accountability for the reported civilian deaths.

The protesters also demanded protection of civil liberties and democratic rights for the people of PoK, stating that peaceful demands for basic necessities and political representation should not be met with violence.

The situation in PoK remains tense following days of unrest, with reports of continued demonstrations, arrests, and security crackdowns across several areas of the region.