Internet services restored in Ladakh after 15 days

Kargil, Oct 9: Authorities on Thursday restored the internet services in Leh district of Ladakh Union Territory after 15-day long suspension, following the violent protests on September 24 - which left four people dead and dozens injured.

The Internet services were restored on Thursday evening in Leh after the situation started returning to normal.

However, the administration has asked people to refrain from circulating, sharing or forwarding any unverified, fake news and messages, rumours through any social media platform in Leh district. It has warned of strict action in case of non-compliance.

District Magistrate Leh issued an order under Section 163 of BNSS, 2023.

Sources said that the decision to restore the internet was taken after a meeting between top officials of Ladakh administration and members of the different political, religious and civil society members including the Leh Apex body in Leh on Thursday.

Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal and DGP SD Singh Jamwal represented the government. Both sides agreed to work together for total normalcy and confidence building measures.

This meeting between Ladakh leaders and administration was held as part of the

Confidence-Building Measure (CBM) held a fortnight after violence broke out in Leh town, leaving four people dead and nearly dozens injured.

Leh Apex Body co-chairman Chewang Dorjey said, “It was reiterated that the UT administration should apologise for labelling Ladakhis as anti-national and withdraw charges against all the people detained after September 24.”

Convener Aam Aadmi Party Ladakh unit T Phunsong, while talking to Greater Kashmir, said that the CBM initiative aimed to help normalise the situation.

“But our demand is that police should stop harassment, and mobile internet should be restored which has been restored this evening. These are the steps which will help in normalising the situation,” he said.