Preparations underway for cremation of 2 more slain persons
LEH/NEW DELHI, Sep 29: Curfew remained in force for the sixth day in this violence-hit town on Monday with Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta set to chair a meeting to review the overall security situation.
“The situation remained by and large peaceful in the curfew-bound areas with no untoward incident reported from anywhere. Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in strength in sensitive areas and are maintaining strict vigil to maintain law and order,” an official said.
He said the Lt Governor has convened a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan to review the security situation in view of the last rites of ex-serviceman Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbuchan and Rinchen Dadul (21) of Hanu later in the day.
The last rites of two youngsters — Stanzin Namgyal (24) and Jigmet Dorjay (25) — were performed on Sunday. The four persons had died on September 24 amid widespread violence in the town.
The officials said mobile internet services continued to remain suspended in Leh town, while prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major parts of the Union Territory, including Kargil.
LADAKH’s TOURISM TAKES A BIG HIT
Ladakh’s tourism sector, already reeling from setbacks earlier this season, has been dealt another blow with the curfew in Leh following last week’s violence.Stakeholders said the industry was first hit by widespread cancellations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the fresh disturbances have further dented travellers’ confidence.
An indefinite curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 following clashes during a shutdown called by a constituent of Leh Apex Body, which has been spearheading an agitation for statehood and the extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Four people were killed and over 150 others injured in the violence.Barring a four-hour relaxation in two phases on Saturday afternoon, the town remained under strict curfew for the sixth consecutive day on Monday with mobile internet services suspended. This has triggered booking cancellations and caused hardships to tourists and local stakeholders.
CENTRE OPEN TO DIALOGUE
The Centre on Monday said it is always open to talks on Ladakh matters with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) at any time and expressed confidence that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in the near future.
The statement by the Union Home Ministry came after LAB announced that it will stay away from talks with the Centre till normalcy is restored and a conducive atmosphere is created in Ladakh. The LAB said it would rethink about returning to the table, “if the right steps are taken before the scheduled next round of talks (on October 6)”.
The Home Ministry said the central government would continue to welcome the discussion with LAB and KDA through the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh or any such platform.The Government has always been open for dialogues on Ladakh matters with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance “at any time”, the statement said.
The dialogue mechanism established with LAB and KDA through the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh has yielded good results till date in the form of increased reservations to the Scheduled Tribes of Ladakh, providing women’s reservation in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and protection to local languages.“The process of recruitment for 1800 posts in government has already commenced in the UT of Ladakh. We are confident that continuous dialogue would yield the desired results in the near future,” the statement said. (PTI)
