Leh curfew eased for 7 hours; internet ban till October 3

Srinagar: Curfew was relaxed for seven hours from 10 am in Leh on Tuesday. Mobile internet services will remain suspended in Ladakh till October 3, as per the latest communication of the ministry of home affairs (MHA).

Curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 evening following violent protests during a shutdown called by the student bodies while they were pressing for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Four people were killed and scores of others injured in the clashes between protesters and police and paramilitary personnel, while over 50 people were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the rioting. Wangchuk was also detained under the stringent NSA and lodged in a jail in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

Police officials said no untoward incident was reported from Leh and other areas and the situation remained under control. “Since September 24, no violent incident has been reported. The situation is limping back to normal,” an official said.

The curfew was initially relaxed from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday and was subsequently extended till 5 pm. The official said a decision to extend the relaxation will be taken depending on the situation. Additional district magistrate in Leh, Ghulam Mohammed, ordered the opening of all groceries, essential services, hardware and vegetable shops during the relaxation period. Prohibitory orders are still in force in other major parts of the UT, including Kargil.

Meanwhile, the Ladakh BJP called for a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure “accountability and justice”. “At the same time, we demand the immediate release of all innocent persons charged with minor offences,” the BJP said in a statement, expressing condolences to the families of the deceased.

“Ladakh is known for its beauty and the resilience of its people. We urge everyone to uphold peace and harmony. It is crucial that we do not take law and order into our hands or fall prey to misinformation. Let us work together to ensure that peace prevails,” the party said. It appealed to everyone to come together. “We request the cooperation of all citizens in maintaining peace and supporting efforts towards healing and reconciliation,” it said.