Leh, Sep 27 (NationPress) On Saturday, officials declared a temporary relaxation of the curfew in Leh from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as conditions began to improve. Following discussions with leaders from the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), this decision was made to enable residents to purchase essential goods.

Violent confrontations on September 24 between unruly crowds and security forces resulted in the deaths of four protesters and injuries to 70 others.

During a press briefing in Leh, DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal stated that ongoing discussions with both apex bodies and the central government have yielded significant progress.

He emphasized, “Ladakh is the only region in India where locals enjoy 85 percent reservation. One-third of council seats are reserved for women. To safeguard local culture, the Burgi and Bodi languages have been granted official status. Amid these developments, certain self-proclaimed social activists, particularly Sonam Wangchuk, whose credibility is questionable, attempted to disrupt the peaceful environment in Ladakh.”

Wangchuk initiated a hunger strike, despite warnings that such actions could hinder ongoing negotiations, leading to a chaotic situation with approximately 5,000-6,000 individuals, including anti-social elements, causing destruction of property.

The DGP recounted, “Protesters set fire to a political party office and assaulted security personnel. They also torched a building where four female security officers were present. My vehicle was vandalized, resulting in minor injuries.”

In response to extreme circumstances, the police were compelled to use firearms, leading to four fatalities, he noted.

“Seventy protesters and an equal number of security personnel were injured. A female protester was airlifted to Delhi for medical care. I assure the community that the Ladakh Police is committed to serving the people. I am familiar with the sentiments of the Ladakhi people, having served here before, and we have made sacrifices. This year, in three separate incidents, we lost an inspector and two constables,” the DGP stated.

He added, “What transpired on September 24 was an isolated incident. Our police force is dedicated to public service and operates continuously. However, we will not tolerate anti-social elements.”

In addressing the youth, he said, “We welcome you to join the police force and other government positions.”

Responding to questions regarding Sonam Wangchuk, the police chief stated that Wangchuk’s background is publicly available on YouTube, remarking, “He has been inciting tensions by discussing Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, driven by his personal agenda.”

Furthermore, an arrest was made involving a Pakistani terror operative who had been communicating with individuals in Pakistan. “Investigations into his FCRA violations are ongoing,” the DGP explained.

Additionally, he noted that three Nepalese individuals were injured during the unrest and are currently hospitalized.

The DGP confirmed that the curfew is being eased today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in a phased approach and that all standard operating procedures were adhered to when security forces discharged their weapons.