The call for a shutdown in Kargil was given by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in solidarity with the people of Leh. All commercial establishments remained shut, and there was no movement of people on the streets.
File Photo: ANI
While the situation remained tense across the Ladakh union territory (UT), the administration on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS also in the Kargil district, where a complete shutdown was observed to protest against the killing of four youth in yesterday’s police firing and injury to more than 70 people in Leh. Curfew continues to be clamped in Leh after the unprecedented clashes.
The call for a shutdown in Kargil was given by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in solidarity with the people of Leh. All commercial establishments remained shut, and there was no movement of people on the streets.
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More than 50 people, including a Congress councillor, have been taken into custody by the police in connection with the violent incidents, reports said. Ladakh Police, ITBP, and CRPF were deployed in strength across Ladakh to maintain peace.
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Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta held a high-level security review meeting to assess the emerging situation across Ladakh. He emphasised the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across the UT.
Ladakh MP Haji Mohmad Haneefa has described the violence in Ladakh as unfortunate and called for a free and fair investigation into the deaths. He also appealed to the government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to resume talks at the earliest and address the issues of Ladakh seriously.
The KDA and Leh Apex Body (LAB), are spearheading the ongoing agitation for implementation of its 4 demands, including statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh. They said that the happenings in Leh were a result of public frustration after the Centre halted talks with Ladakh bodies over the statehood issue.
Co-chairman of KDA, Asgar Ali Karbalai, condemned the harsh actions of the government, and said that witch-hunting should stop and talks should be restored.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah also criticised the BJP for pointing fingers at Congress and urged it to take responsibility for what happened in Leh. He said that the people of Ladakh had initially followed Gandhian methods of non-violent agitation.
He said that the Centre failed to implement the promises that BJP leaders made to the people of Ladakh during the elections.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, has strongly condemned the incident in Leh where force was used against the public. The CEC expressed deep concern over the unfortunate development and stated that LAHDC Kargil stands in complete solidarity with the people of Ladakh. He urged the people to maintain law and order and place their trust in peaceful and non-violent means of expression.
Akhoon appealed to the Government of India to address the concerns of Ladakh in the upcoming High-Power Committee talks, with the hope that the long-pending agenda, including Statehood and Sixth Schedule, will be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the chief cleric of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while expressing grief over the loss of lives in Leh, wrote on X; “The aftershocks of the unilateral decision of dismemberment and downgrading of the state of J&K, and the unkept promises made to its people thereafter, are bearing these unfortunate consequences. Hope promises made to people of Ladakh are honoured and lives saved”.
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