Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir erupts in violent protests, 12 civilians killed in army crackdown
Muzaffarabad: At least 12 civilians were killed and over 200 injured as Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), marking one of the region’s most intense uprisings in recent years.
The unrest, now in its third day, has spread across Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Kotli, and Dadyal, where demonstrators clashed with the army. Reports said five protesters were killed in Muzaffarabad, five in Dheerkot, and two in Dadyal. Three policemen also lost their lives.
The agitation, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC), began on September 29 over the government’s failure to meet 38 demands. Key demands include scrapping 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, tax relief, flour and electricity subsidies, and completion of pending development projects.
Markets and businesses remain shut, while internet, mobile, and landline services have been suspended. Visuals circulating on social media show thousands of protesters toppling barricades and raising slogans such as “Kashmir is ours, we will decide its fate”, in a rare direct challenge to Pakistan’s military establishment.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently in London, announced the formation of a negotiation panel and appealed for peace, urging security forces to show restraint.
Meanwhile, United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) spokesperson Nasir Aziz Khan appealed to the United Nations for urgent intervention, warning of a potential humanitarian crisis.
This escalation comes days after 30 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, further heightening tensions in the region.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Kharge expresses regret over 'illiterate' remark, says he has highest of respect for Gujaratis
_vb_85.jpeg)
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed regret over his controversial statement calling the people of Gujarat "illiterate", and said he has always had and will continue to have the highest of respect for the people of the state.
In a post on X, the Congress president said, "Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret.
"It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect."
Kharge on Sunday had sparked a row during his Assembly poll campaign in Kerala, calling the people of Gujarat "illiterate" and claiming they were being "fooled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the same time, Kharge said neither Modi nor Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could fool the people of Kerala, describing them as "very clever and educated".
"Don’t misguide the people of Kerala. They are very clever and educated. Modiji, Vijayan, you both can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat or other places, but you cannot fool the people of Kerala," the Congress chief had said.
He made the remark while alleging that both Modi and Vijayan were following the same path, with no difference between them except the parties they lead.
The BJP on Tuesday had demanded an apology from Kharge for his remarks, saying that the comment was "shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable."
Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with Kharge's statement.
_vb_92.jpeg)
_vb_51.jpeg)
_vb_41.jpeg)