Silent march in Leh thwarted with strict security measures

LAB demands Ladakh Rep in probe team

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 18: Authorities imposed strict security measures and suspended mobile internet services to thwart today’s planned silent march in Leh, jointly called by Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) as part of their agitation for Statehood and safeguards under Sixth schedule of the constitution.

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However, Kargil witnessed a peaceful silent march with KDA leaders condemning the restrictions in Leh but welcomed the announcement of a judicial probe announced yesterday by the Union Home Ministry into the September 24 firing incident that left several people dead and scores of others injured.

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Officials said police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength in Leh and adjoining areas amid a call by the agitating groups for a two-hour silent march from 10 am and three-hour black out from 6 pm across Ladakh to express solidarity with those who lost their lives in widespread violence on September 24, were injured or detained.
Fearing law and order, the authorities’ imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS in Leh, suspended mobile internet services and also ordered closure of educational institutions to maintain law and order.
“We have called for a silent march to peacefully highlight our demands but the administration, by using its might, have demonstrated its failure. They have deployed forces in strength and did not allow the people to assemble for the march,” Anjuman Imamia president and a member of LAB Ashraf Ali Barcha told reporters.
Anjuman Moin ul Islam chief Abdul Qayoom claimed that the co-chairman of the LAB, Chering Dorjay, was also put under house arrest, appealing people not to make any attempt to reach the venue of the march in view of the stringent security measures.
In Kargil, hundreds of people led by KDA leaders, including co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai and Sajjad Kargili, held a peaceful march from Hussaini Park to the main bus stand after passing through the main bazaar.
The participants were wearing black bands and carrying placards reiterating their demand for Statehood and safeguards under sixth schedule.
“We welcome the Centre’s decision to order a judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh and want the Government to announce unconditional release of all detained persons including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and adequate compensation for the families of four slain persons and those injured,” they said addressing the gathering.
Later talking to reporters, Karbalai condemned the curbs placed on the LAB leadership and the people in Leh and said “such oppressive steps are not acceptable to the peace loving people of Ladakh”.
Meanwhile, the Leh Apex Body has welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a judicial probe into the September 14 violence but demanded inclusion of a representative from Ladakh in the team.
The group criticized the Lt Governor-led administration for foiling the silent march earlier during the day and said “such actions can never prove fruitful or convince us to resume talks with the centre”.
“We welcome the MHA’s notification for a judicial inquiry. But we saw some shortcomings like the reference which is FIR No:144. It looks that the inquiry is against our boys and secondly, none of the three is from Ladakh.
“We want this inquiry to be completely transparent and no attempt should be made to hide anything. We want someone from Ladakh to be made part of the team,” LAB Co-chairman and Ladakh Buddhist Association chief Chering Dorjay Lakruk told reporters in Leh.
He replied in affirmative when asked whether he would like MHA to change the composition of the team and said “it is necessary to include a Ladakhi in the team so that the people have confidence in this commission.”
He said the restrictions placed on the people to scuttle the silent march were “very sad thing for all of us” and “we consider such measures as undemocratic and unlawful”.
“This shows that the administration is very scared. And I think that when the administration is scared of its own people, there must be something wrong…we could only manage a symbolic march without participation of the people,” Lakruk said.

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