After last week’s violent protests, Leh limping back to normalcy

After last week’s violent protest that left four people dead and nearly 100 injured, Leh town is now limping back to normalcy. Starting from Friday, the schools up to class VIII and public transport resumed in the district.

The Ladakh administration had on Thursday ordered that “all shops and schools up to class VIII within Leh district shall remain open, and small buses (public transport) shall be permitted to ply within Leh district on Friday between 10 am and 6 pm.

In response to these measures, local residents were seen flocking the markets on Friday as well. Local businessmen said that after the authorities started relaxing the curbs, locals are coming out and buying day-to-day stock.

On Friday, officials said as the schools were opened till class VIII, students also turned up in schools. “Students resumed their classes and everything passed off peacefully,” said a senior Leh education official. The official said that a decision on resuming other classes is being considered.

UT officials, meanwhile, said that they are keeping a close watch on the situation. “We are gradually opening up and relaxing further curbs. The decision to restore mobile internet will be taken only after taking feedback from the security agencies,” said a senior UT official.

Officials said since September 24, when curfew was imposed, no untoward incident has taken place anywhere in Leh, which has helped bring normalcy to the town. “All efforts are being taken to ensure peace continues to prevail in Leh town,” said the official.

Violence broke out last week during a hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, when protesters, mostly youth, torched the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council building and several vehicles. Security forces opened fire, resulting in four deaths.

The Ladakh administration ordered a magisterial inquiry to investigate the events leading to the “serious law and order situation” and the “police action” on September 24. This comes amid widespread criticism following the deaths of four persons. However, the Leh Apex Body rejected the magisterial inquiry, demanding instead that the investigation be conducted by a former Supreme Court judge.