Two killed as AJK protesters clash with Rangers

Two persons were killed in the clashes between protesters and Rangers on Monday in AJK, taking the toll of the five-day protests to three.

For the past five days, people have been out following the call of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for cuts in power tariff, flour price and withdrawal of the elite privileges.

The latest causalities were reported from Barakot where angry protesters torched a vehicle. The lawmen fire teargas to quell the protests. According to sources, aerial firing injured four people too.

At Shoran, protesters torched three vehicles of Rangers. The lawmen resorted to aerial firing and tear-gas shelling, leaving three protesters injured. One of the injured is stated to be in critical condition.

Reports said the violent clashes were on and the situation in the area is intense.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate release of Rs23 billion to resolve the AJK issue, a PMO press release said.

A report said on May 9 and 10, police detained more than five dozen activists in a bid to prevent a long march announced by the JAAC to press the government to comply with an agreement reached between the two in February this year — triggering serious clashes in Dadyal and a shutter-down strike call.

On Friday, fierce clashes between police and protesters were witnessed in different areas of Muzaffarabad.

The next day, AJK witnessed violent clashes, leaving at least one police official dead and more than 90 others injured.

On Sunday, as a possible agreement between the JAAC and the AJK government remained elusive, the situation initially remained calm but the protest movement resumed its march on Muzaffarabad.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz showed their concerns and urged all stakeholders to show restraint.