Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: The UT administration of Ladakh today established first direct contact with civil society in Leh by holding a meeting after which it was decided that internet services will be fully restored in the district.
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The meeting chaired by Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal was attended by DGP SD Singh Jamwal and other senior civil and police officers. The civil society was represented by Head Lamas of two Monasteries, Leh Apex Body (LAB) chairman Thupstan, Chhewang and co-Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk and leaders of political parties among others.
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Lakruk told the Excelsior that they reiterated their demand for judicial inquiry by a Supreme Court Judge into September 24 violence in Leh in which four civilians were killed and many others were injured, immediate end to “police excesses’’ like arrests of youth, restoration of internet services and revocation of restrictions imposed under Section 163.
“The administration has agreed to restore internet services with immediate effect,’’ he said. The internet services were fully restored tonight.
Lakruk said they are not against talks with the Centre if their demands are conceded. However, talks with the Centre would be conditional and should be held only on grant of Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh, he added.
The meeting was aimed at easing tensions following last month’s violence, which left four persons dead and scores of others injured when protesters turned violent while demanding that date for talks with the Centre should be advanced to avoid further delay on their issues.
The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the steps to be taken for the restoration of complete normalcy in Ladakh, where prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons remained in force since the day of violence, along with suspension of the mobile internet services.
This was first direct contact of Ladakh UT administration with civil society of Leh following September 24 violence.
After the violence, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance had called off proposed October 6 talks with the Union Home Ministry demanding judicial inquiry into the violence and release of detainees.
The High Powered Committee (HPC) meeting on October 6 was to be chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
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