Authorities in Leh eased the curfew on Saturday, allowing residents a two-hour window from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to grab essential supplies. The move comes as tensions in Ladakh start to cool down after leaders from the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) shared their input with officials.
This relaxation follows deadly clashes on September 24, where angry crowds clashed with security forces. Four protesters lost their lives, and around 70 people suffered injuries in the chaos.
At a press conference in Leh, Director General of Police (DGP) S.D. Singh Jamwal highlighted progress from ongoing talks between the LAB, KDA, and the central government. “Ladakh stands out with 85% job reservations for locals—the highest in India,” he said. “We’ve also reserved one-third of council seats for women and given official status to the Burgi and Bodi languages to safeguard local culture.”
But Jamwal pointed fingers at certain activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, whose credibility he questioned. “These so-called leaders hijacked a peaceful push for demands,” the DGP explained. He accused Wangchuk and others of starting a hunger strike that sparked a rampage by 5,000 to 6,000 people, including troublemakers from outside. Crowds torched a political party office, attacked security personnel, and even set fire to a building trapping four female officers inside. Jamwal’s own vehicle got smashed, leaving him with minor injuries.
Faced with the violence, police opened fire in self-defense, resulting in the four deaths. “We had 70 injured on our side too, matching the protesters,” Jamwal noted. One woman hurt in the Ladakh protests got airlifted to Delhi for care. He stressed that the force followed standard operating procedures (SOP) every step of the way.
The DGP painted a picture of the Ladakh police as dedicated servants. “This is my second stint here, and I know the heart of Ladakhi people,” he said. “We’ve sacrificed a lot— this year alone, an inspector and two constables gave their lives in separate incidents.” He called the September 24 violence a rare blip and vowed not to let anti-social elements off the hook.
Jamwal reached out to the youth: “Join us in the police or other government jobs—we’re here for you with open arms.” On Wangchuk specifically, he suggested checking YouTube for the activist’s background. “He’s stirring things up with talk of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to fuel anger, but he has his own agenda,” Jamwal added.
Investigators recently nabbed a Pakistani terror suspect linked to Wangchuk, who was reportedly feeding info back to Pakistan. Probes into Wangchuk’s alleged Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) violations are underway. Three Nepalese nationals also got hurt during the rampage and remain in the hospital.
Jamwal confirmed the curfew lift will happen in phases today, giving folks in Leh and surrounding areas a chance to stock up on groceries and necessities amid the Ladakh unrest.
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