Tensions are still running high in Leh, Ladakh, where a curfew stretched into its third day on Friday. Authorities in nearby Kargil also stepped in with fresh restrictions to keep the peace amid ongoing protests.
A team from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sat down with leaders from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to talk things out. In a big move, the MHA yanked the FCRA registration from the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), the group started by well-known climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Officials pointed the finger directly at him for stirring up young people and sparking violence in Leh town.
Ladakh police aren’t holding back. They’ve filed several FIRs and rounded up more than 50 people involved in the riots. The clashes have left a heavy toll: four people dead, 90 injured, and widespread damage to buildings and vehicles. That includes offices of the BJP and the Hill Council, hit hard by the unrest.
The MHA meeting in Leh on Thursday set the stage for more talks. Organizers plan a prep session in New Delhi on September 27 or 28, once the ministry confirms the date. Three reps each from LAB and KDA will join, along with Ladakh’s MP. Right after, a full High Powered Committee—seven members from each group—will dive into a four-point agenda with top Home Ministry officials. LAB leaders Thupstan Chhewang and Chering Dorjay shared these details in a joint statement Thursday night.
Families in Leh are grieving as authorities handed over the bodies of the four civilians killed in the security forces’ response. They include Tsewang Tharchin, 46, a retired Ladakh Scouts soldier from Skurbuchan; Stanzin Namgayal, 24, from Igoo; Jigmet Dorjay from Kharnakling; and Rinchen Dadul, 21, from Hanu.
Injuries from the Ladakh violence paint a grim picture: 90 people hurt in total, with seven in serious condition and 20 dealing with major trauma. One critically injured person got airlifted to New Delhi on an Air Force flight Thursday. Now, just 18 remain in hospitals, including seven who’ve had major surgeries.
To curb the chaos, Leh’s district administration shut down all government and private schools, colleges, coaching centers, and Anganwadi centers for two days starting September 26. Curfew patrols by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and local Ladakh cops are keeping watch in hotspot areas.
Investigators are digging deeper, eyeing possible outsiders in the mix. Some injured rioters hail from Nepal and Doda, and officials suspect a bigger plot behind the Leh riots. “We’re looking into what these Nepalese and Doda youth were doing in the crowd,” one official said. “Once doctors clear them, we’ll bring them in for questioning.” They’re also tracing where the mob got petrol bombs used to torch the BJP office, Hill Council building, and even security vehicles.
The MHA and Ladakh’s Union Territory administration promise a crackdown on anyone who joined the violence or egged it on. Some could face charges under the tough Public Safety Act (PSA). Police have already logged multiple FIRs at the Leh station. Besides Wangchuk, two Congress councilors are in the spotlight for possible involvement.
To stop the Ladakh protests from spreading, similar curbs hit other spots like Kargil, where the KDA called a shutdown. Kargil’s District Magistrate issued orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning unauthorized gatherings of five or more people, processions, and speeches that could stir trouble.
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