New Delhi: Civilian protests and unrest have hit Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) after which the authorities in the region have launched a massive crackdown to control the protests which have spread all across the region. Fresh clashes on Saturday killed one policeman and injured 90 others.
The protests have continued for four straight days over the Awami Committee’s demand for tax-free electricity from the Mangla Dam and subsidies for wheat flour. Police raids during the night that resulted in the detention of multiple leaders and activists served as the reason for the strike. Protesters and police enforcement clashed at Muzaffarabad, Dadyal, Mirpur, and other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Protesters have been yelling Azadi (freedom) chants. In Muzaffarabad and other districts, they engaged in conflict with the police and security services. The traders are leading the protests, spearheaded by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee. Following the announcement of the strike on Friday, some action committee leaders were taken into custody.
“There is going to be a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike observed across PoK and specifically in Muzaffarabad against the police brutality against our peaceful protesters in Dadyal,” said Saukat Nawaz Mir, chairman of the Traders Association Muzaffarabad and member of the Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, news agency IANS reported.
“I call on everyone to come out today and raise your voice for your rights,” he added as videos of locals demanding freedom from the Pakistani establishment went viral. The committee had staged a similar protest in August 2023 as well. “We reject the imposition of taxes on electricity bills. Instead, we demand that electricity should be provided to consumers in accordance with the production cost of hydel power in the region,” said Shaukat Nawaz Mir.
On May 5th EAM S Jaishankar emphasised that PoK has always been a part of India and the very sorry state of affairs has continued because the earlier governments did not ensure that Pakistan vacated the region after independence.
“PoK has never been out of this country. It has always been a part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian parliament that PoK is very much a part of India. Now, how did other people get control? Ab ho jaata hai (it happens) when you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of a house, an outsider will come and steal something,” Mr Jaishankar said during an interactive session in Odisha’s Cuttack.
