Supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a movement calling for economic and governance reforms, have continued protests despite being banned under anti-terrorism laws last week.
Officials initially reported seven deaths on Monday, including three civilians and four police officers, with dozens of people wounded. The latest count showed the number of fatalities had increased to 20.

Local government higher education minister Malik Zafar told AFP that clashes in his constituency of Kotli had resulted in seven deaths during the week.
Commissioner Sardar Waheed, the senior civilian official in Rawalakot, said 12 people had been killed, including four police officers.

A senior police official in Mirpur, Khurram Iqbal, said one protester died during clashes with police on Wednesday.

Several shops in Muzaffarabad have remained closed as businesses joined calls for a strike in support of the JAAC, while mobile internet services have been largely unavailable, according to an AFP journalist in the area.
JAAC members have rejected the designation of the group as a terrorist organisation, describing the move as suppression and saying their protests are aimed at securing economic and political rights.

The latest unrest follows violent clashes in the Himalayan region in September, when nine people were confirmed killed during protests led by the JAAC.

Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but has been divided between the two countries since the end of British rule. The territory remains highly sensitive, with decades of tensions and conflicts between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Spokesperson of Guterres Stephane Dujarric said in a press conference, “I think it’s very important that demonstrators be allowed to demonstrate peacefully and that security forces show restraint. This is the secretary general’s constant position.”

Violence that erupted in the north east Delhi has officially claimed over 24 lives and over 180 people are injured, while the social media reports have claimed that the unofficial figures are triple.

Muslim houses and businesses are burnt and razed down to ground.

The voilence was alledgedly triggered after BJP’s Kapil Mishra had made intimidating and provocating speeches against anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protestors.

Indian government under Prime Minister Modi passed the controversial bill in parliament in December 2019. The law paves the way for minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to get the Indian citizenship, but the critics say it is biased against Muslims, since it’s only applicable for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis, excluding the Muslim migrants.