MUZAFFARABAD: At least one person was killed and over a dozen others were injured on Monday in Azad Kashmir, as the region observed a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike. The strike was called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) over unresolved demands.
The casualties occurred near Neelum Bridge after a midday clash between a peace rally led by Muslim Conference leader Raja Saqib Majeed and JKJAAC protesters.
Witnesses said participants of the rally opened fire on demonstrators without provocation. Mohammad Sudheer, 30, died after being hit by a bullet, while Mohammad Basharat, 50, suffered shrapnel injuries. Police and paramilitary forces intervened, firing tear gas and bullets at protesters.
Mobile and internet services have remained suspended in Azad Kashmir since Sunday noon, with sources indicating that the restrictions could last until Wednesday. The strike was announced after negotiations over the abolition of elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir remained deadlocked.
Eyewitnesses described the situation as chaotic, with spent bullet casings collected at the scene and people rushing injured individuals to hospitals. Some shopkeepers questioned why the peace rally was allowed on the same day as the strike. Communications restrictions prevented officials and Raja Saqib Majeed from commenting on the incident.
Later in the evening, hundreds gathered at Lal Chowk in Muzaffarabad for a separate JKJAAC meeting. Leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, urged the crowd to reassemble the following day for further action and called on the army to monitor the situation. Similar gatherings were reported in Rawalakot, Sudhnoti, and Bhimber, where a rally was led by Ehsanul Haq, brother of PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
All businesses and shops remained closed, and streets were deserted across Azad Kashmir, reflecting the widespread impact of the strike and unrest.
In other news read more about Shutter Down and Wheel Jam Strike Cripples Daily Life in Azad Kashmir
