Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir: Kashmir clashes have killed at least 15 people and injured more than 50 as thousands of protesters marched toward the regional capital before the July 27 vote.
The dead included 11 civilians and four security officers, according to local officials. Officials said 12 people, including four security personnel, died in Rawalakot earlier this week, while three more died in Kotli on Tuesday.
The protests centre on 12 legislative seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir. The Joint Awami Action Committee says the seats weaken representation for residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee on June 5 under anti-terrorism laws, accusing it of violence and conduct harmful to state security. AP reported that police arrested dozens of supporters before the planned march after the ban.
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Poonch district commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan told BBC Urdu that more than 10,000 protesters were about 4km outside Rawalakot. He said authorities would not allow the convoy to pass through the city toward Muzaffarabad.
Security forces increased patrols in major districts. Local mosques also broadcast announcements asking residents not to leave their homes, BBC Urdu reporters.
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Amnesty International said the crackdown included an internet shutdown, mass arbitrary arrests and deadly use of force. The rights group said the designation of the protest movement under “terrorism” laws marked a dangerous escalation in the region.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has ruled that the reserved seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be changed through administrative action, political deals or public pressure.
