KDA endorses LAB decision to stay away from talks
CRPF, ITBP, Ladakh Police deployed in strength
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 30: In an indication of violence-hit Leh’s gradual return to normalcy, curfew was today relaxed for almost full day in the town in the UT of Ladakh with no untoward incident reported from anywhere even though suspension of mobile data services and public Wi-Fi facilities has been extended in entire Leh district till October 3.
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The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has also announced that it will not hold talks with the Centre till restoration of normalcy and release of all protesters including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) had yesterday taken a similar decision. The talks of High Powered Committee (HPC) were scheduled to be held in New Delhi on October 6 under the chairmanship of Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
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Curfew was imposed in Leh on September 24 after large-scale violence erupted in the town with mob torching offices of BJP, Hill Council and many vehicles. Police and paramilitary personnel opened firing in which four civilians including an ex-serviceman were killed and 90 others were injured, many of them police and CRPF personnel.
Officials said curfew was relaxed from 10 AM to 2 PM in entire Leh district but the relaxation period was extended till 5 PM with no untoward incident reported from any part. However, shopkeepers closed their business establishments around 5 PM. People turned out in large numbers to purchase essential commodities during the relaxation period.
Educational institutions remained closed.
However, police and paramilitary personnel from CRPF and ITBP remained deployed in strength in Leh town and other sensitive areas to maintain strict vigil on law and order situation.
Curfew was relaxed for the first time for two hours each from 1 PM and from 3.30 PM in separate areas on Saturday. This relaxation period had also passed off peacefully.
The officials said mobile internet services continued to be suspended in 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.
An order issued last evening said mobile data services of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and public Wi-Fi facilities 5G will remain suspended till 6 PM on October 3 in the entire jurisdiction of district Leh in the UT of Ladakh.
Curfew was imposed in Leh town 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 Councilors, were taken into custody following the incident. These included 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 Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) today threw its weight behind the Leh Apex Body’s decision to suspend talks with the Centre, declaring they will not return to the negotiating table until climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others are released and a judicial inquiry into last week’s police firing in Leh is ordered.
The KDA, a key body representing leaders from Kargil, joined its counterpart in Leh — Leh Apex Body (LAB), in escalating the standoff with the Centre over the demand for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The KDA’s announcement made in New Delhi follows LAB’s move on Monday to suspend the dialogue process.
Talking to reporters here, KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai said the alliance is “constantly in touch” with LAB.
“We will not participate in the talks with the Centre till Sonam Wangchuk is released, arrests are stopped, those arrested are released, and a judicial probe is ordered,” Karbalai said.
“If the Government of India thinks they can silence Ladakhis by scaring them, they are wrong, we will not sit quietly,” he said. “If you want to kill my brother and talk to me, it is not possible.”
A major point of contention raised by the leaders was the alleged portrayal of Ladakhis as “anti-nationals” by Government sympathizers.
“We want to tell the Government of India that we don’t need a certificate from anyone. We have sacrificed our lives for the country. Stop portraying Ladakhis as anti-national,” Karbalai asserted.
Ladakh MP Mohammad Haneefa echoed this sentiment, stating locals are deeply upset by the “denunciatory term” being used against them.
“A narrative is being spread that, despite the sacrifices that people of Ladakh have made…they are trying to portray us as anti-national,” Haneefa said.
He stressed that their demands are well within the Constitutional framework, driven by a fight for cultural identity and ecological safety following the abrogation of Article 370.
Leaders also levelled serious allegations that the firing at protesters was targeted.
Haneefa claimed the father of one of the deceased, an ex-soldier, stated his son was first beaten with a baton before being shot.
Karbalai cited the case of a youth on a bike, wearing a helmet, who was allegedly “shot in the head”, saying there is “no accountability in Ladakh”.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Kargil Hill Council, Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, urged the Government not to dismiss their demands lightly and requested the Union Home Ministry to take action against the person who ordered the firing.
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