3 killed as angry protests in Kashmir rage on

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Three people have been killed and six others wounded amid violent protests against increasing prices and taxes in the Pakistan-controlled zone of Kashmir.

Demonstrations continue in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jamu and Kashmir despite Islamabad’s announcement of a Rs23 billion subsidy for the enraged people of the region.

The casualties occurred in firing and teargas shelling by paramilitary troops in Muzaffarabad on Monday, soon after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and AJK Premier Anwarul Haq approved the release of Rs23 billion for AJK on account of power and wheat subsidies.

Leaving the region in a 19-vehicle convoy, Rangers were pelted with rocks by angry protesters in a Muzaffarabad village. The law-enforcers responded with teargas shelling and gunfire, Dawn reported.

Muzaffarabad Divisional Commissioner Sardar Adnan Khurshid confirmed three people had been killed in firing by Rangers and another six had suffered injuries.

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