Authorities in Ladakh are unlikely to allow the planned silent march today by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) demanding statehood and inclusion under the sixth schedule.
The LAB and KDA had called for today’s silent march and blackout across Ladakh to press their long-standing demands.
However, with the restrictions in place, the planned protest is unlikely to be permitted. Officials said restrictions have been enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing apprehensions of disturbance to public peace and order. Similar curbs are in place in Kargil district as well.
LAB co-chairman Cherring Dorjay Lakruk said he has been “house detained” and not allowed to step out.
Locals in Leh also claimed that mobile internet services have remained suspended since last night.
The restrictions come even as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday announced a judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh, in which four people were killed and several others injured after police opened fire on protesters demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
The inquiry will be conducted by Dr Justice BS Chauhan, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, “to ensure a free, fair, and impartial investigation into the incident.”
The probe will examine the circumstances leading to the law and order situation, the police action, and the resultant deaths that occurred during the protests.
