ISLAMABAD – Protests broke out and shutter down strike was observed in Muzaffarbad, and parts of Azad Kashmir as police continued to make arrests of agitators.
At least 70 activists have been arrested amid ‘long march’ by Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee. Agitators now called for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Friday.
People took to the streets to protest against ‘unjust’ taxes on electricity bills and had previously organized a strike in August last year for the same cause – inflated bills and no subsidy on basic commodities.
This is Muzaffarabad today. Thousands of Kashmiris violated the old colonial black law section144. They came out from their homes on feet. No transport was used due to wheel jam strike. They are demanding tax free electricity from Mangla dam and subsidy on wheat flour. #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/2aNuSyP9ou
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) May 10, 2024
Kashmir residents demand electricity rates based on the production cost of hydel power but despite assurances from the ministerial committee to address these issues, the committee feels their demands have not been met.
To stop agitators, incumbent authorities called in Punjab Constabulary, FC. AJK High Court earlier called on the government to finalize an agreement with Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda) regarding the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project and other hydroelectric projects, and to seek approval under AJK’s interim constitution.
The government however not acted on court directives, leading to discontent among people.
Apart from the hydroelectric projects issue, the movement has highlighted concerns such as the supply of hydropower at production cost, flour subsidies, and reducing privileges for certain groups.
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