Leh: Ladakh Administration Says Peace Restored, LAB Disputes Normalcy
Leh: The Union Territory administration on Monday asserted that Ladakh remains peaceful, with schools, offices, and markets reopened. However, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) claimed the situation is far from normal, demanding the immediate lifting of restrictions and the release of detainees to restore public confidence.
“Normalcy cannot return through intimidation. What appears normal on the surface is just an illusion,” LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said at a press conference, alleging that “mass arrests” are continuing.
Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory on Monday. Leh had witnessed widespread violence on September 24 during an agitation led by LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) demanding statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule safeguards. The unrest left four people dead and many others injured, prompting a curfew and suspension of mobile internet services.
While the curfew has been gradually eased since early October and schools up to class 8 resumed from October 3, prohibitory orders restricting assemblies of five or more people remain in place. Internet services continue to be suspended, and other educational institutions have yet to reopen.
“Lt Governor today 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 stated on X on Monday. Gupta, who has been holding daily security review meetings since the September 24 violence, urged officials to stay vigilant and focus on peace and development.
At the press conference, LAB co-chairman Dorjay said the situation remains tense in the violence-hit town. “Nothing is normal as the internet remains suspended and mass arrests are ongoing,” he claimed. Dorjay called on the government to lift all restrictions, release those detained, and restore mobile internet services to regain public trust.
He further accused the administration of harassing numberdars (village heads) who had informed villagers about the LAB-led hunger strike from September 10 to 24 in support of statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards. “Numberdars are an important part of our culture and are being harassed without justification. We condemn these actions and consider them an attack on our culture,” Dorjay said.
He added that detaining community leaders will not restore peace, urging the administration to release all detainees. “Normalcy cannot return through intimidation. Questioning numberdars is unjust—they merely fulfilled their duty of communicating with villagers,” he said. The LAB reaffirmed its commitment to continuing a peaceful struggle in support of its demands.
On Sunday, the Lt Governor reiterated that his administration is fully committed to restoring complete normalcy and easing public inconvenience at the earliest.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, addressing the September 24 violence, blamed vested interests and said the government is committed to meeting the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and initiating dialogue soon. He emphasized that the government has always encouraged open and constructive dialogue.
The statement came after LAB and KDA decided to skip a scheduled meeting with the Centre on October 6 until a judicial probe is ordered into the deaths of four individuals and all detainees, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, are released. Kotwal noted that 30 of the 70 youths detained after the clashes have been released, while the remainder remain in judicial custody and will be released according to court orders.
“We will ensure that youngsters are not put to any hardship and that no innocent person is wrongly implicated,” he affirmed.
