Local residents belonging to various regions of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), including Tatta Pani, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hajira, and Tatrinote today raised slogans in protest against the illegal occupation and atrocities meted out by the Pakistani Army near the Line of Control (LoC) with India. The protests were aimed at claiming independence for the region.

The protestors can be heard sloganeering: “Pakistani fauji chod do Kashmir ko” and “yahan jo maara maari hain uske peeche wardi hain”, roughly translated as “Pakistan Army, leave Kashmir alone” and “army is behind the atrocities here”.

Protesters in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) chant slogans against illegal occupation by Pakistan Army near the Line of Control (LoC) with India. Many such Kashmiris have been beaten up by Pakistani forces. Heavy presence of Pak forces visible. Media blackout in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/44W8Fxxfz0 — Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) September 8, 2019

The Pakistani police in turn mercilessly assaulted and fired upon the demonstrators. In the ensuing panic, several Kashmiri’s were injured. One of the agitators was gravely injured when the Pakistani police open fired upon them.

The locals were reportedly protesting the arrests of 40 nationalist protestors from the Hajira police station area the previous night. These arrested protestors had organised a sit-in protest and were raising pro-independence slogans when they were reportedly arrested by Hajira police officials.

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Mobile services have been discontinued in the area, resulting in a communications blackout.

Earlier on Saturday also, media reports had mentioned the police breaking up several pro-independence marches in the Hajira region of PoK.

Since the time India has gone ahead to revoke Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan’s already strained relationship has worsened. The abrogation of Article 370 has rattled Pakistan, which has since stepped up its efforts to create unrest in Kashmir. In the wake of this development, it has resorted to multiple ceasefire violations.

In fact, Defence Expert, PK Sehgal today asserted that Human rights violations are taking place on a large-scale in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Sindh and Balochistan.

“If there are human right violations taking place, they are taking place on a large-scale in PoK, Sindh, and Balochistan and not in Kashmir,” Sehgal told news agencies furthering that Pakistan has been desperately trying to push infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir.

Moreover, NSA Ajit Doval had also in a wide-ranging interaction with journalists in New Delhi Saturday reiterated that Pakistan is frustrated and is desperately trying to create unrest in Kashmir to blame it on India. Doval revealed some intelligence intercepts that showed how frustrated Pakistan is trying to send to the terrorists hiding in Jammu and Kashmir

Doval outlined that spooked by the government’s decision, Pakistan has been constantly trying to constitute an atmosphere of panic in the valley and in its attempt to do so, Pakistan has been trying to push terrorists inside India through the LoC. “Pakistan is trying to create trouble. 230 terrorists were spotted. Some of them have infiltered while some have been arrested”, Doval added.