Curfew and severe restrictions entered their 9th consecutive day in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh as Indian occupation authorities continue to keep the region under a tight siege. According to Kashmir Media Service, mobile internet and many communication services remain suspended, gatherings of more than four persons are banned, and heavy deployment of Indian Army and paramilitary personnel continues across the region.

Political talks with New Delhi have collapsed after both the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance withdrew from the dialogue process in protest against Delhi’s betrayal of promises. In a related development, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Amra Ram was denied permission to meet detained Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Jodhpur Central Jail. The parliamentarian was turned away from the jail gate despite waiting for over half an hour.

He said New Delhi should clarify under what conditions a meeting would be allowed with Wangchuk, who “is not a terrorist that even a meeting with him should be denied.” Ram accused the Modi government of adopting a repressive attitude and betraying Ladakhis after firing on peaceful protesters and jailing their leader.

Meanwhile, several Ladakh student associations jointly wrote to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, demanding a judicial probe into the civilian killings in Leh on September 24 when Indian forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators. The memorandum, signed by bodies including the All Kargil Students’ Association Delhi, Ladakh Students Forum JNU, and others, called for an impartial inquiry under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge.

The students also demanded dignified government jobs for the families of those killed, financial compensation, medical coverage for the injured, and the immediate release of detainees including Sonam Wangchuk. They further condemned the Indian media for defaming Ladakhis with “false and misleading reports”.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)