By: The Trek News Desk
The situation in Leh, the main town of the Ladakh region, has remained calm following the violent incidents on Wednesday that led to the death of four people. As of Thursday morning, there have been no reports of new violence. However, authorities have imposed strict restrictions in both Leh and Kargil, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people as a precautionary measure.
Kargil Observes Complete Shutdown
In response to the police firing incident on Wednesday, which resulted in four deaths, a complete shutdown was called in Kargil on Thursday. The shutdown is a show of solidarity with the people of Leh and a protest demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for the region.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), a group leading the movement for these demands, called for the shutdown.
Authorities have also imposed restrictions on gatherings in Kargil, and a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces has been made in the area to maintain law and order.
Sajjad Kargili, a prominent member of KDA, stated, “This shutdown is a symbol of mourning and solidarity as we protest the killings in Leh.”
He urged people to stay peaceful and avoid any form of violence, adding, “Violence is never the solution to any problem. We believe in a peaceful, dialogue-based approach to address our demands.”
Leh Situation Stabilizes
In Leh, where four people were killed and over 50 were injured during the protests on Wednesday, the situation is reported to be under control.
According to authorities, there have been no new reports of violence since Wednesday evening. Police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) forces have been stationed at key locations to maintain peace and order.
During the protests, some demonstrators turned violent, setting fire to the local BJP office, which led to police opening fire in self-defence. The situation was brought under control, and authorities are closely monitoring any further developments.
Sonam Wangchuk Calls for Peaceful Protests
Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned activist leading the movement for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh, reiterated his call for peaceful, democratic protests.
Having previously been on a hunger strike, Wangchuk stressed that the movement must remain non-violent. He appealed to the people to avoid violence and to continue their demands through peaceful means.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Expresses Grief
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent cleric and chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, expressed his sorrow over the deaths in Leh.
He linked the incident to the aftermath of the August 5, 2019, decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the division of the region into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
He posted on social media, “The people of Ladakh and Kashmir are still living without the fulfillment of promises made to them. I hope that the promises made to the people of Ladakh are honoured, and such tragic incidents are prevented in the future.”
While the situation in both Leh and Kargil is currently under control, the administration has taken stringent measures to prevent further violence. The tragic deaths have highlighted the growing political unrest in Ladakh, signalling the need for the central and state governments to address local grievances and demands with greater attention and seriousness.
Source: News Agencies
