Guwahati1 minute ago
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There is silence in the major markets of Leh even after the curfew has been lifted – file photo.
The main market of Leh, which used to be filled with tourists for about 7-8 months of the year, is deserted. The hotels are empty. Rooms costing Rs 5 to 10 thousand are not being filled even with the nominal rent of Rs 500 to 1 thousand. Vehicles are standing empty at the taxi stand. There are 10 times more security personnel guarding the place than the number of tourists who are here now. Internet is down. We have never lived a life like this before. Violence took away the joy of our season. And the Lieutenant Governor is claiming that everything is normal in Leh. The current situation cannot be called normal for us.
When Rigzin Vagmo Lechik was saying this, she had tears in her eyes. Lechik is also the president of All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association Leh.
Lechik said that the Pahalgam incident had caused harm to 50% of the tourists, in the violence in Leh this has increased to 80%. 2000 guesthouses and hotels are lying vacant.
Tourism accounts for 50% of Ladakh’s total GDP. We used to start booking for next March-April in October, but this time there is not a single pre-booking.
As soon as the icy cold starts in the next few days, everything will stop here. If we don’t earn today, how will we survive for the next six months?
Internet service was restored in Ladakh’s capital Leh on Thursday night after protests by local people. However, no order was issued for this.
At the same time, the Collector has warned of strict action against spreading fake news on social media. Internet service was stopped after the violence on September 24.
Three youths and a 46-year-old former soldier, Sewang Tharching, were killed in the September 24 violence.
Internet remained closed for 16 days
This is the situation in entire Leh since 24th September. The violence that took place during the fast of social activist Sonam Wangchuk took away the peace of Leh. Tsering Dorje, co-chairman of Leh Apex Body, said that what the government is calling normal is beyond comprehension. Even today five people cannot stand together anywhere because Section 163 has been imposed.
Everything from 2G to 5G and public WiFi networks remained closed. 39 people are still in police custody on charges of violence. Schools are opening, but children are not attending classes. The whole of Leh is standing for Wangchuk, but due to weather and compulsion of earning, people have to open the market.
Leh Taxi Union President Thinless Namgyal said that not a single booking has been received since September 24. There are about 6 thousand taxi operators here, all of them are sitting empty. Our families are facing many difficulties due to violence.
Big question… Who ordered firing to stop the violence?
Tsering Dorje said that when violence broke out on September 24, the crowd started pelting stones, the police opened fire, killing 4 youths. The answer to who gave the order for firing has not been received till date. We have been asking this for 16 days, but the Lieutenant Governor is not ready to say anything on this. We want a judicial inquiry into the matter, so that the families of the deceased can get justice.
Leh Deputy Commissioner has entrusted the responsibility of investigating the violence to SDM Nubra Mukul Beniwal. But, the Leh apex body has rejected it. Some members associated with this said on the condition of anonymity that we have also investigated. The firing order was not given by the local administration. Then who is behind this and whose conspiracy is there, that is why we want an honest investigation.
Wangchuk in Jodhpur jail, hearing in Supreme Court on October 14
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali met her husband in Jodhpur Central Jail. He told that Wangchuk’s courage is unwavering and his resolve remains strong. Geetanjali said that the legal team has received a copy of her detention order, which will be challenged in the court.
Wangchuk was detained under the NSA following the violence in Ladakh on September 24. He has demanded an independent judicial investigation into the death of 4 people and said that until the investigation is done, he will remain in jail.
Geetanjali has filed a petition in the Supreme Court for Wangchuk’s release, which will be heard on October 14.
