World
Death Of 10-Year-Old Sparks Student Anger In PoK, Raises Fresh Questions Over Crackdown
By: News18 World
Published: 28 October 2026
Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk
<p>Student protests have reportedly erupted in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following allegations that 10-year-old Shayan Azhar was killed in firing by Pakistani security forces in Bagh, triggering fresh anger over alleged state brutality and Islamabad’s administration of the region.</p>
<p>Students of Government Boys Postgraduate College in Muzaffarabad reportedly took to the streets to protest the alleged killing, with demonstrations reflecting growing discontent among young people over the conduct of security forces and demands for accountability.</p>
<p>The incident comes amid months of unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where protests over governance, economic grievances, political representation and civil liberties have repeatedly brought demonstrators into confrontation with the authorities.</p>
<p>According to intelligence inputs, there have been repeated allegations of Pakistani security forces using live ammunition against unarmed protesters in districts, including Bagh and Muzaffarabad.</p>
<p>The inputs describe the reported killing of Shayan as another flashpoint in the deteriorating relationship between local residents and the security establishment. Student demonstrations following alleged civilian casualties are being viewed as part of a broader expression of anger over Islamabad’s administrative and military control of the region.</p>
<p>Intelligence inputs have also highlighted the repeated imposition of internet and mobile network restrictions by Pakistani authorities during periods of unrest in the region.</p>
<p>These restrictions are assessed by the sources as measures that limit real-time reporting of alleged civilian casualties and make it harder for information about protests and the security response to reach audiences outside the region.</p>
<p>Prolonged communications disruptions can also affect students’ access to educational resources, disrupt businesses and complicate the work of journalists and rights monitors seeking to document developments.</p>
<p>Internet restrictions have been a recurring grievance during the wider protest movement in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Local reporting in October documented the restoration of internet services in Muzaffarabad after an extended disruption, while restrictions continued in parts of Poonch and Kotli.</p>
<p>Wider Discontent In Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir</p>
<p>The student demonstrations come against the backdrop of a broader movement demanding greater accountability, political rights and relief from economic hardship.</p>
<p>The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has spearheaded protests across the region over issues including electricity tariffs, wheat prices, political representation and the implementation of government commitments. The movement has also raised concerns over alleged excessive force, arrests and restrictions on civil liberties.</p>
<p>Earlier rounds of unrest saw clashes between protesters and security personnel, casualties and disruptions to everyday life. The authorities have defended their security measures, while protest organisers have accused the administration of failing to address their grievances adequately.</p>
<p>Students and young people have increasingly featured in demonstrations, with concerns over access to education, employment opportunities, civil liberties and the treatment of protesters contributing to wider discontent.</p>
<p>Intelligence assessments cited in the inputs describe the latest student protests as part of a broader rejection of Islamabad’s governance and military control.</p>
<p>Student protests erupted in Muzaffarabad following allegations that 10-year-old Shayan Azhar was killed in firing by Pakistani security forces in Bagh, intensifying public anger over state brutality and regional control.</p>
<p>Pakistani authorities have repeatedly imposed internet and mobile network restrictions during periods of unrest, which limits real-time reporting of civilian casualties, hampers journalism, disrupts local businesses, and impedes students' access to educational resources.</p>
