LEH: Authorities on Tuesday announced a four-hour relaxation in the week-long curfew imposed in Leh town, asking shopkeepers to open their establishments as officials assessed the ground situation.
Shops selling groceries, vegetables, hardware and other essentials were permitted to operate from 10 am to 2 pm, according to an order issued by Additional District Magistrate Ghulam Mohammed. A police officer said the decision on further relaxation would depend on how the situation unfolds during the day.
The curfew was first eased for two hours on Monday evening after the last rites were performed for the four people — including a retired Army personnel — who died in the September 24 clashes between protesters and security forces. Over 60 people, including two councilors, were taken into custody, among them climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been booked under the National Security Act and shifted to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
Officials said no fresh incident of violence had been reported since the September 24 unrest, when a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) spiraled into stone-pelting and arson, leaving scores injured. Mobile internet remains suspended in Leh, while prohibitory orders continue in other parts of Ladakh, including Kargil.
Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has been holding daily security review meetings and on Monday appealed to people to maintain peace, calling it “the cornerstone of development.” He praised residents for showing restraint and promised that all “legitimate issues” would be addressed through dialogue and democratic means. Gupta also directed enhanced intelligence gathering, community engagement and quick redress of public grievances to rebuild trust with citizens.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh BJP demanded a thorough investigation into the firing to ensure “accountability and justice.” In a statement, the party also sought the release of “innocent persons charged with minor offences” and urged people not to fall prey to misinformation.
“Ladakh is known for its resilience. We must uphold peace and harmony and ensure that law and order is not taken into our own hands,” the BJP said, appealing for unity and reconciliation in the troubled region.
