Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remained paralysed for two consecutive days as protests and strikes gripped the region under a sweeping communications blackout. On Monday, rival groups clashed in Muzaffarabad, leaving one shopkeeper dead and several injured near Neelum Bridge. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) accused a government-backed rally of provoking violence, while authorities used tear gas and arrests to disperse demonstrators. Businesses, banks, and transport services were shut across the state, with youth blocking roads and gatherings reported in multiple districts. By Tuesday, tensions escalated as thousands rallied at Lal Chowk demanding accountability. Meanwhile, the suspension of mobile and internet services since Sunday crippled media coverage, leaving local newspapers unable to publish and forcing journalists to travel outside the region to file reports.