Neelum shuts down after arrest of Raja Iftikhar; Khai Gala tense amid police protester standoff
MUZAFFARABAD: The atmosphere in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) turned tense on Thursday as fresh protests broke out in Neelum Valley’s Keran area and in Khai Gala, Rawalakot, ahead of the September 29 lockdown call by the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee.
In Keran, demonstrators blocked roads in protest against the arrest of Raja Iftikhar, a core member of the committee, demanding his immediate release. Meanwhile, in Khai Gala, protests entered the fourth consecutive day against alleged firing by State Minister Faheem Rabbani, which left the area gripped with anger and resentment.
The protests added to an already volatile situation in the region. Protesters in both districts staged sit-ins, chanting slogans against what they termed the government’s “high-handedness and inaction.”
Residents accused the administration of mishandling the crisis and warned that any further use of force could ignite a larger movement. “The government has left us with no option but to take to the streets,” a protester in Neelum said.
It is pertinent to mention here that, Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee has already announced a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across AJK on September 29 to press for its demands. Today’s protests are being seen as a prelude to that action, with observers warning that the situation may spiral out of control if dialogue is not initiated immediately.
Political commentators noted that the unrest in AJK has added momentum to the committee’s campaign. “The risk of a complete breakdown of order is real, unless the government steps in with meaningful negotiations,” they added.
