During the public protest movement in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir that has been going on for the past two and a half months, the situation in Rawalakot on Tuesday became more tense when the local administration forcibly closed the markets that were opened on the instructions of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee.
The Joint Public Action Committee had allowed traders to open businesses and markets on Tuesday, after which shopkeepers in Rawalakot started opening their shops.
According to local sources, as soon as the shops opened, a heavy contingent of administration and police reached the spot and ordered the traders not to open shops at cheap prices or on the appeal of the committee.
While forcibly closing the shops, the administration was strict and took several shopkeepers into custody and shifted them to the police station for non-compliance.
The continuous strike, closure of shops and blockade of the state of Kashmir by Pakistani forces in Rawalakot and other areas of the region for the past two and a half months has led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
There has been a severe shortage of basic necessities, especially medicines and food and beverages.
Local traders and the public say that on the one hand, the continuous shutdown is destroying their livelihoods, while on the other hand, when they try to resume business on a limited scale on the appeal of the Action Committee, the administration starts a series of reprisals and arrests.
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