'Leave This Place': Pakistani Security Forces Accused Of Forcibly Withholding Slain PoK Man's Body | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 18:02 IST

The high-handed administrative action has sparked intense local outrage and added fuel to an already volatile security situation across the border districts

Serious allegations have emerged against Pakistani security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with the family of a slain local man accusing law enforcement agencies of forcibly withholding his mortal remains. The family of Usman Sabir, who was shot and killed in firing by security forces on the night of June 7-8, claimed that senior police executives categorically refused to hand over his body for final rites. The high-handed administrative action has sparked intense local outrage and added fuel to an already volatile security situation across the border districts.

According to family accounts, the fatal incident occurred in Rawalakot during the funeral prayers for Shahzaib Habib, an activist associated with the Joint Awami Action Committee. Security forces, including the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, reportedly opened fire on the gathering of mourners, killing Sabir on the spot. Following the shootout, his body was moved to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalakot, where relatives had gathered to claim the remains for burial.

Direct Administrative Refusal and Missing Remains

The brother of the deceased alleged that while they were waiting at the medical facility, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tariq arrived at the scene and explicitly blocked the release of the body. According to the family’s statement, the senior officer ordered them to vacate the premises immediately, stating bluntly that the remains would not be turned over to the family. The Station House Officer (SHO) of the Rawalakot Police Station subsequently confirmed that the bodies of the firing victims were being held under secure administrative custody at CMH Rawalakot.

Despite initial official confirmations regarding the location of the body, Sabir’s family has raised alarms that his remains have since gone missing from the hospital setup. The family’s public appeals have forced local journalists to investigate the discrepancies in the police department’s narrative. The state’s refusal to allow traditional burial rites has deeply offended local religious and cultural sensitivities, turning a case of civil protest into a grave humanitarian issue.

Rising Tensions in the Border Region

The confrontation comes amid a broader, sustained civil uprising led by the Joint Awami Action Committee against inflation, heavy taxation, and the heavy-handed presence of Pakistani paramilitary forces in the region. Local rights groups have condemned the firing on a funeral congregation as an egregious violation of basic human rights, warning that withholding the bodies of local residents will only deepen regional alienation.

As the standoff between local residents and the police command continues, opposition leaders have demanded an immediate judicial inquiry into the Rawalakot massacre. The federal government in Islamabad faces mounting pressure to rein in the high-handed tactics of its security apparatus in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, as the denial of basic dignity to the deceased threatens to trigger another wave of uncontrollable civil unrest across PoK.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

News world 'Leave This Place': Pakistani Security Forces Accused Of Forcibly Withholding Slain PoK Man's Body | Exclusive

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