Silent march for Ladakh’s statehood thwarted in Leh; peaceful protest held in Kargil

Srinagar: A silent march planned jointly by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to press for statehood for Ladakh Union Territory (UT) and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule could not take place in Leh on Saturday, after authorities imposed stringent restrictions and suspended mobile internet services across the region.

However, despite the clampdown in Leh, hundreds of residents in neighboring Kargil district participated in a peaceful silent march, where local leaders denounced the restrictions in Leh and welcomed the Centre’s decision to initiate a judicial probe into the September 24 firing incident that claimed several lives and left many injured.

Officials said that large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in and around Leh early Saturday morning to prevent any gathering. The two-hour silent march was scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by a three-hour blackout from 6 p.m., to mourn those killed, injured, or detained in the September 24 violence.

In anticipation of unrest, the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), temporarily suspended mobile internet, and ordered closure of schools and colleges. “All these measures were taken as a precautionary step to prevent any untoward incident,” a senior official said.

LAB leader and Anjuman Imamia president Ashraf Ali Barcha expressed disappointment over the curbs. “We had appealed for a completely peaceful march to draw attention to our constitutional demands. Instead, the administration has chosen to silence people through restrictions and deployment of forces. This shows a complete failure of governance,” Barcha told reporters in Leh.

The agitation for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections, which would grant Ladakh greater autonomy over its land and resources, has been intensifying since the UT’s bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. The September 24 clashes — the worst in Ladakh since 2019 — erupted when security forces confronted protesters in Leh, leaving four civilians dead and around 90 injured.

Responding to public outrage, the Union Home Ministry on Friday announced a judicial inquiry, to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, into the September 24 violence. The announcement came after sustained pressure from LAB and KDA, who have jointly led the movement for Ladakh’s political rights for over a year.

Ladakh Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal said the inquiry was aimed at ensuring “a fair and transparent investigation” into the incident.

Saturday’s events once again underscored the deepening discontent in Ladakh, where residents increasingly fear marginalization and loss of control over local resources.