Authorities unveiled that the week-long curfew in Leh town will experience a four-hour relaxation on Tuesday from 10 am, as shopkeepers receive permission to open their establishments. This decision comes amid heightened tensions following violent clashes on September 24.
On Monday, officials also relaxed restrictions for two hours from 4 pm, coinciding with the last rites of four individuals, including a retired Army personnel, who tragically lost their lives during widespread protests. A police official stated that further relaxation will depend on the evolving situation as the day progresses.
Ghulam Mohammed, the Additional District Magistrate in Leh, mandated the opening of all groceries, essential services, hardware, and vegetable shops during the relaxation period. Authorities aim to restore normalcy while ensuring public safety amidst the unrest.
“Despite the violence last Wednesday, no other incidents were reported throughout the region,” a police spokesperson noted, emphasizing that police and paramilitary forces remain deployed in strength, maintaining a vigilant stance across sensitive areas.
Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has been conducting daily high-level security meetings to monitor the situation closely. He encouraged citizens to uphold peace, reinforcing that it is the “cornerstone of development.”
“I urge all sections of society to maintain unity and harmony and not fall prey to the designs of anti-social and anti-national elements,” Gupta stated. He assured that the administration supports the populace and will address their legitimate issues through dialogue and democratic means.
The Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the community’s remarkable restraint in these challenging circumstances, committing to open channels for public grievances through enhanced intelligence gathering and regular community engagement.
In Leh town, mobile internet services remain suspended, and prohibitory orders banning assemblies of five or more continue in major parts of the Union Territory, including Kargil.
Authorities imposed a curfew on the evening of September 24 following violent protests triggered by a shutdown led by a constituent of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), demanding both statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
More than 60 individuals, including two councilors and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, faced detention, with Wangchuk arrested under the National Security Act and later placed in Jodhpur jail, Rajasthan.
The Ladakh BJP has called for a rigorous investigation into recent incidents to ensure accountability and justice. They emphasized the need for the immediate release of all individuals wrongfully charged with minor offenses.
“Ladakh is renowned for its beauty and the resilience of its people. We urge everyone in Ladakh to uphold peace and harmony. It is crucial that we do not take law and order into our hands or fall prey to misinformation,” the BJP stated.
The BJP’s call for unity resonated strongly, as they encouraged the community to work together towards maintaining peace and fostering healing and reconciliation.
