Curfew relaxed in Leh for 7 hours; situation remains tense over firing deaths

Amid mounting demands for a judicial probe into the police firing that claimed four lives, including that of a Kargil War veteran, and the release of those arrested after the September 24 violence in Leh, authorities on Tuesday relaxed curfew in the town for seven hours from 10 a.m.

The easing of restrictions allowed markets to reopen gradually, offering relief to residents who had been under week-long curbs.

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However, the situation in Ladakh continues to be tense as the government is yet to announce effective measures to defuse the anger among the people.

On Monday, restrictions were lifted briefly for two hours from 4 p.m; shortly after the cremation of the victims who were killed in the clashes between protesters and security forces.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere during the curfew relaxation till 5 pm. The authorities allowed grocery, essential services, hardware and vegetable shops to open during the curfew relaxation in the Leh district.

Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in strength in sensitive areas and are maintaining strict vigil to maintain law and order, a police official said.
The curfew was initially relaxed from 10 AM to 2 PM on Tuesday and was subsequently extended till 4 pm.

Mobile internet services continued to be suspended in the Leh town, and prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons are still in force in other major parts of the Union Territory, including Kargil.

Curfew was imposed in Leh on the evening of September 24 following violent protests during a shutdown called by a constituent of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), to advance talks with the Centre on the demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

More than 60 people, including two councillors, were taken into custody following the incident. These included educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained under the National Security Act on September 26 and subsequently lodged at Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the former chairman/chief executive councillor Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah urged him to order a judicial probe into the police firing and withdraw “unsubstantiated and false cases” registered against the arrested persons. This would help restore trust, ensure justice, and uphold the rights of the individuals involved.

Spalbar also urged the Home Minister to announce immediate relief and compensation to kin of those “martyred” in police firing. This gesture of goodwill would help mitigate the prevailing sense of angst and unrest among the people of Ladakh, fostering a sense of understanding and support during this difficult time.
The Ladakh BJP has also called for a “thorough investigation” into the incident to ensure “accountability and justice”.

The BJP demanded immediate release of all innocent persons charged with minor offences.