After intense clashes, curfew imposed in Ladakh; 50 detained, towns under heavy security cover

Leh: A day after the shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) descended into violence, arson and street clashes, police and paramilitary forces implemented curfew on Thursday in the violence-hit Leh, where four people were killed and over 80 others were injured. At least 50 people were also detained as a preventive measure.

LAB had called for the shutdown to advance talks with the Centre on the demand for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

Strict prohibitory restrictions banning assembly of five or more persons have been placed in other major towns as well, including Kargil, where a shutdown was called by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in support of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike.

Wangchuk's fortnight-long hunger strike was called off after intense clashes broke out in Leh town. The protesters had set ablaze the BJP office and several vehicles, besides vandalising the Hill Council headquarters, prompting the promulgation of an indefinite curfew in the town.

Quoting a police official, PTI reported that the situation in the curfew-bound areas was under control and that no untoward incidents had been reported from anywhere.

Three among the injured were citizens of Nepal, and police are probing if there are foreign hands behind the violence, the official told the news agency.

The LAB and KDA have been spearheading an agitation in the last four years, pressing for their demands on statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule. They have held several rounds of talks with the Central government in the past. The next round of talks is scheduled on October 6.

Officials said heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear was made in Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra, Padam, Changtang, Drass and Lamayuru.

Kargil District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the entire district, banning assembly of five or more persons, taking out processions or holding demonstrations without prior written permission of the competent authority.

Restrictions were also imposed on the use of loudspeakers, sound amplifying devices, or vehicle-mounted public address systems without authorisation. Besides, no person shall make any public statement, speech, or declaration -- whether verbal, written, or through electronic means -- which is likely to disturb public peace, provoke enmity, or cause a breach of law and order in the district, the official order said.

Trouble began brewing in Leh when two out of 15 people, who were on a 35-day hunger strike since September 10, were shifted to the hospital after their condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening, and the LAB youth wing gave a call for a protest.

The Centre had alleged that the mob violence was guided by the "provocative statements" of activist Wangchuk. It stated that certain "politically motivated" individuals were not satisfied with the progress made in the ongoing talks between government representatives and Ladakhi groups.

"The government stands committed to aspirations of the people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards," the home ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night.

Terming the events heart-wrenching, Lt Gov Kavinder Gupta had said everyone has the right to speak up peacefully in a democratic system, but what happened was not spontaneous and was the result of a conspiracy. "Curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent more casualties," Gupta said.

In an online press conference, Wangchuk said the fact that Tsering Angchuk (72) and Tashi Dolma (60) were hospitalised was most likely the immediate trigger for the protest.

With the situation worsening rapidly, he stepped in with an appeal and an announcement that he was cutting his fast short.

"I request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith, as it only causes harm to our cause and further deteriorates the situation. We do not want instability in Ladakh and the country," he told his supporters.

"This is the saddest day for Ladakh and for myself personally because the path we are treading for the last five years was peaceful... We held hunger strikes on five occasions and walked from Leh to Delhi, but today we are seeing our message of peace failing because of the incidents of violence and arson," Wangchuk said.