Four personnel of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Police were allegedly kidnapped in Rawalakot while travelling from their homes to report for duty, according to official sources.
The abducted officials have been identified as constables Shahid Shafiq, Muhammad Saghir, Muhammad Ishtiaq and Zeeshan Ishaq. Officials said the four policemen remain in captivity.
Authorities have blamed members of the banned Joint Public Action Committee for the abductions, alleging that the group resorted to violence after failing to attract significant public participation in its sit-in in Rawalakot.
According to officials, the four policemen were intercepted and kidnapped while on their way to their duty stations. The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with security agencies closely monitoring the situation.
Officials also alleged that members of the same group had previously kidnapped an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Azad Kashmir Police and subjected him to severe torture. They claimed that the group had been involved in attacks on law enforcement personnel in the past.
Government officials and some political observers have described the alleged abductions as criminal acts and said such incidents have undermined public support for the banned organization. They claimed that the group's recent activities have been widely condemned by sections of the public and political circles in Azad Kashmir.
There has been no immediate response from representatives of the banned Joint Public Action Committee regarding the allegations. Authorities said efforts are underway to secure the safe recovery of the abducted police officials and investigate the incident further.