Early Times Report
Leh, Oct 6: Ladakh remains peaceful with schools, offices and markets reopened, the Union Territory administration asserted on Monday. Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory on Monday. Leh was rocked by widespread violence on September 24 during an agitation spearheaded by LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for statehood and extension of Sixth schedule safeguards that left four persons dead and scores of others injured, prompting imposition of curfew and suspension of mobile internet service. While the curfew was gradually lifted since the beginning of this month and schools up to class 8 started functioning from October 3, prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons together remain in force, internet mobile services remain suspended along with work in the rest of the educational institutions. “Lt Governor today (Monday) chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Ladakh. The UT remains peaceful, with schools, offices, and markets reopened,” the LG office said in a post on X on Monday. Gupta, who has been chairing the security review meetings on a daily basis since the September 24 violence, asked officials to The curfew has been gradually lifted and schools up to class 8 have started functioning. Prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons together remain in force Internet mobile services remain suspended along with work in the rest of the educational institutions. The Lt Governor chaired a high-level meeting and asked officials to remain vigilant and focus on peace and development. remain vigilant and focus on peace and development. On Sunday, the Lt Governor said his administration is fully committed to restoring complete normalcy and easing public convenience at the earliest. Blaming vested interests for the September 24 violence, Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal had on Saturday said the government stands committed to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and would be keen to start the dialogue process soon. Kotwal said that the government has always desired an open and constructive dialogue and has never shied away from meeting, standing committed to addressing the aspirations of the people of Ladakh. The statement came after LAB and KDA decided to stay away from the scheduled meeting with the Centre on October 6 until a judicial probe is ordered into the death of four persons and all those detained, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, are released. The chief secretary had said 30 of the 70 youth, who were detained following the September 24 violent clashes, have been released, and the rest are in judicial custody and would be released as per court orders. “We will ensure that youngsters are not put to any hardship and no misguided innocent person is implicated,” he stressed. |