Normalcy back in Leh, schools up to Class 8 to open today
*26 detainees released, 30 still in custody
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 2: The administration today ordered magisterial inquiry into September 24 violence in Leh that left four civilians dead and 90 others including 30 police and CRPF personnel injured with timeline of four weeks for completion but the two Buddhist religious bodies reiterated their demand for judicial inquiry into the killings even as 26 youths detained for the violence were released on court orders while 30 others are stll in custody.
As life remained normal in Leh town with authorities relaxing curbs for whole day like yesterday, the authorities ordered opening of schools up to Class 8 within Leh district from tomorrow (Friday). No untoward incident took place during the relaxation period or thereafter today.
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“All shops and schools up to Class 8th within Leh district shall remain open and small buses (public transport) shall be permitted to ply within Leh district on Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, subject to strict adherence to the restrictions laid down Under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023,” an official order issued today said.
Shops and business establishments functioned normally today. However, the tourists were still missing as nearly week-long curfew has dampened spirit of those desirous of visiting the Union Territory. Locals were of the view that once normalcy prevails in next few days, the tourists will be attracted back to Ladakh. Click here to watch video
Mobile internet services, however, remain suspended across the district and prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons were also in force across Ladakh.
An order for the magisterial inquiry said the District magistrate Leh has designated Mukul Beniwal, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nubra as the Inquiry Officer into the death of four individuals during serious law and order situation and police action that took place in Leh on September 24.
The magisterial inquiry will be completed within four weeks, the order read and called upon all concerned persons to extend their cooperation to ensure fair and transparent inquiry.
Jigmet Dorjey of Kharnak, Rinchen Dadul of Hanu, Stanzin Namgail of Igoo, and Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbuchan died on September 24 in the firing by security forces.
“Any person(s) having information about the incident or is willing/desirous to give oral evidence/written statement/material evidence (photos or video recordings) before the Inquiry Officer regarding the incident may appear before the SDM and provide statements/evidence from October 10-18 during the day at DC Officer Conference Hall, Leh. Office of the Inquiry Officer,” the order said.
Last month, security forces opened fire in Leh town during a shutdown called by youth wings of Apex Body Leh to advance talks with the Central Government over its demand for Statehood for Ladakh and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the All Ladakh Gonpa Association (ALGA) held a joint prayer meeting in Leh today and paid tribute to the four persons who were killed in the September 24 police firing in Leh.
After the prayers, the members of the two Buddhist bodies unanimously passed a resolution demanding an impartial judicial inquiry into the alleged excessive use of force and indiscriminate firing by police and paramilitary forces on protesters, adequate compensation for the dependents of those killed and critically injured, and the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the groups said in a joint statement.
They also demanded immediate release of all others detained by police on “flimsy grounds” following the violence and an end to “witch-hunting and harassment” of the local youths in order to restore normalcy in the region.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, LBA president Chering Dorjay Lakruk said the body’s legal advisor, Haji Ghulam Mustafa, has been granted permission to meet Wangchuk, who has been lodged in a Rajasthan prison after his detention under the National Security Act on September 26.
Mustafa has left for Delhi, from where he will proceed to Rajasthan. Some of Wangchuk’s family members were also allowed to meet him, said Dorjay, who is also co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB).
He said 26 people who were detained in the aftermath of the violence have been granted bail by a local court while around 30 remain in custody.
The Leh Apex Body, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been agitating in support of four demands, including Statehood and safeguards for Ladakh under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and has held several rounds of talks with the Central Government.
Both the groups have decided to stay away from talks scheduled for October 6 with the Centre, demanding that a conducive atmosphere be created before the resumption of dialogue by ordering a judicial inquiry and releasing all those detained.
Meanwhile, police have registered an FIR to identify and arrest those behind the circulation of a deepfake video attributing a false statement to Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP) S D Singh Jamwal.
In another incident, a General Council member of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) has committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence.
LBA chief Chering Dorjay Lakruk said that Stenzin Dorjay, a resident of Skitmang village, some 100 km from Leh town, was a big fan of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who was detained under National Security Act and lodged in Jodhpur jail on September 26.
Survived by his wife and two children, Dorjay was found dead by hanging at his house early Wednesday.
His brothers claimed that he was highly depressed after the September 24 violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured.
“He was a member of our General Council and was linked to our movement (in support of Statehood and Sixth schedule of the Constitution). He was a big fan of Wangchuk, I know it because I saw him with Wangchuk on September 24,” Lakruk said.
He said he also wanted to go outside the hunger strike venue but “I stopped him. According to his two brothers, he went into depression as he had not likened the things unfolding and probably committed suicide”.
A police official confirmed the death of Dorjay by suicide and said preliminary investigation has suggested that he had taken a lot of alcohol the previous night.
Police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of his death, he said, adding the post-mortem of the deceased was conducted on Wednesday itself and the body was handed over to his family for last rites.
“We have not found any note or anything else suggesting the reason for his taking such an extreme step,” the official said.
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