Leh/Kargil, October 28: Authorities in Ladakh have lifted restrictions on public gatherings imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNNS), which banned the assembly of five or more people across the Union Territory.
Officials said the deputy commissioners of Leh and Kargil districts issued separate orders on Monday announcing the withdrawal of the curbs, which had been in place to prevent any breach of peace and disturbance to public tranquillity.
Restrictions Followed September Violence
The prohibitory orders were first imposed on September 24, following widespread violence in Leh that left four people dead and several others injured. The restrictions, lifted after nearly three weeks, were reimposed on October 17 amid a protest call by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)—two groups leading the agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
Talks Resume With Centre
After a five-month hiatus, talks between the two groups and the Central Government resumed on October 22, shortly after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced a judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence—one of the protesters’ key demands.
No Further Threat to Public Order
Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk said in his order that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) had reported on October 24 that there was no longer any imminent threat to public order or peace.
“Therefore, I do hereby withdraw the restrictions with immediate effect,”
Donk stated in the order issued on Monday.
Similarly, Kargil District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar issued an identical order after receiving a communication from the district SSP confirming that the situation had returned to normal.
Background
The Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been jointly pressing for full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides special administrative and cultural safeguards to certain regions.
The lifting of restrictions signals a gradual return to normalcy in the Union Territory, even as dialogue between local representatives and the Centre continues.
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