At least 24 people were killed and 97 others injured as police and security forces opened fire during ongoing protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to media reports on Saturday. Authorities have detained 515 people, while strikes, road blockades, and internet disruptions have spread across the region. The situation remains tense, with curfews imposed and media access restricted.

The protests, ongoing for nearly two weeks, erupted over the decision to reserve 12 of the 45 legislative assembly seats for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir in the upcoming July 27 election. The movement has been led by the recently banned civil rights group Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Police chief Liaqat Ali Malik said the main center of the protests is Rawalakot, located about 100 kilometers south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir.

Authorities have cut off major roads and internet connections in an effort to control the unrest, while the region remains under tight security and limited media presence.