AJK, MUZAFFARABAD, and MIRPUR: As the protests against high energy bills and taxes reached their second day in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), on Saturday, a police officer was shot dead following altercations with demonstrators from the Awami Action Committee (AAC).
In opposition to the state’s increased taxes and power prices, the AAC called for a shutter down and wheel-jam strike, which kept markets, trade centers, offices, schools, and restaurants closed throughout the AJK.
All routes leading to Madina Market, where the AAC had planned a reception for the participants in the long march, were heavily guarded by police.
At Shahrah-e-Srinagar, barricades barred the routes to Muzaffarabad, and there were large police presences on the main roadway.
