Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Friday said incidents of violence would not be allowed to happen in the future. The violence escalated after angry protesters took to the streets on September 24, burning the BJP office and vandalising vehicles caught in the agitation.
He said markets had been open to the general public for the past four days, though shop timings are restricted from 10 am to 6 pm to prevent any untoward incidents.
The protests on September 24, which began with demands for statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, escalated into clashes with police officials in Leh.
Meanwhile, the LG Gupta said all educational institutions up to Class 8 had been reopened.
“After a day or two, everything will be completely normal. The incident of the 24th September was truly painful and tragic, and should not have happened. We are ensuring that it does not happen again,” LG Gupta said.
On Wangchuk’s detention, he said, “The action has been taken based on evidence. It is their right to go to court or elsewhere. It falls under fundamental rights, so that’s fine. But action will be taken based on evidence. Many protestors have been released, and bail has also been granted; those who are found guilty will eventually face action. We have also initiated a magistrate inquiry into the violent clashes of September 24, because Ladakh is a sensitive region and a border state.”
Furthermore, he added that the Central government and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had already invited the Apex Body on September 22, and they have been invited again until October 6, for dialogue.
However, both representative bodies, KDA and LAB, have rejected negotiations with the MHA until the government releases all detainees, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Tensions escalated after the MHA repeatedly rejected demands for extension of the Sixth Schedule and statehood, which gives the right to the local governing bodies to exercise control over the resources for the use of the local population.
Also Read: Wangchuk’s wife moves SC to seek his release
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