Leh (Ladakh): Residents of Leh city stepped out in large numbers on Friday as the administration eased curfew restrictions imposed following recent violent clashes. Streets saw increased pedestrian and vehicular movement, and local markets reopened, offering much-needed relief to the public.
Shops and commercial establishments were permitted to operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as part of the relaxation. A local resident said, “The markets were closed for a week.”
The unrest in the region followed protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Demonstrations in Leh turned violent, leading to confrontations with police.
Earlier, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor (LG) Kavinder Gupta emphasized that the Central government is committed to addressing the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and expressed confidence that the issues could be resolved through dialogue.
“The Ladakh leaders involved in the protests are engaging with the administration, and discussions can also take place at the table. Once such an environment is fostered, we will begin dialogue. The administration has tried to represent the interests of the people… I’ve been here for the past two months and haven’t turned down any meetings. People listen to what I say and work towards solutions,” Gupta told ANI.
LG Gupta also highlighted efforts to boost employment and involve residents in key sectors.
“Job creation efforts are ongoing. Around 1,000 positions have been advertised. We are also working to engage people in tourism, education, and health sectors. There are 18,000 MSME units employing over 50,000 people,” he said.
On Wednesday, LG Gupta chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the law and order situation in the Union Territory. The meeting included Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, Director General of Police SD Singh Jamwal, DIG Srinagar South PK Singh, Deputy Commissioner Leh, SSP Leh Sanjay Kumar, CO 79 Rajat Jain, CO 25, and other senior officials.
Officials briefed the Lt Governor on the latest security situation and the measures being taken to maintain peace and stability.
The violence on September 24 claimed four lives after protesters set fire to a political party office, triggering police retaliation.
