LEH, Oct 6: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Monday rejected the Union Territory administration’s claims that normalcy has returned to Ladakh following last month’s violent clashes, insisting that peace cannot be restored through “intimidation and repression” and urging the government to lift restrictions, release detainees, and restore mobile internet services immediately.
Addressing a press conference in Leh, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said the situation in the region remains far from normal despite schools, markets, and offices reopening in recent days. “What appears normal on the surface is merely an illusion. Nothing is normal as long as mass arrests continue and internet services remain suspended,” Dorjay said, flanked by other LAB members.
While the administration has gradually relaxed curfew restrictions since early October and reopened schools up to Class 8 from October 3, prohibitory orders under Section 144, banning the assembly of five or more persons, remain in effect. Internet services are still suspended, and higher educational institutions continue to remain closed.
Dorjay accused the administration of adopting a heavy-handed approach instead of building trust. “Normalcy cannot return through intimidation. The continued detention of community members and activists will not help restore peace. The government must release all detainees, lift all restrictions, and immediately restore mobile internet services to rebuild public confidence,” he said.
The LAB leader also strongly condemned the alleged harassment of numberdars (village heads) who had merely informed villagers about the LAB-led hunger strike held from September 10 to 24 in support of demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. “Numberdars are an integral part of our traditional governance structure. Harassing them without any justification is unacceptable and amounts to an attack on our cultural fabric,” Dorjay stated.
He clarified that the numberdars had not instigated protests but had simply carried out their duty of communicating important information to villagers. “The questioning and harassment of these community leaders are unjustified and counterproductive. Such actions only deepen mistrust and alienation,” he added.
Reaffirming LAB’s commitment to continuing its peaceful struggle for Ladakh’s political and constitutional rights, Dorjay said that genuine normalcy can only be achieved through dialogue, trust-building, and respect for democratic rights. “The path to peace lies in listening to the people’s aspirations, not silencing them. Ladakh’s people have been peacefully demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards; these legitimate demands must be addressed, not suppressed,” he said.
The LAB has been at the forefront of a sustained movement for full statehood for Ladakh and constitutional protections for its land, culture, environment, and employment. It has accused the administration of ignoring local aspirations since the abrogation of Article 370 and the region’s bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
Dorjay concluded by stressing that “surface-level normalcy” with schools and markets open cannot mask the prevailing unrest. “Real normalcy will return only when people’s rights are respected, restrictions lifted, and democratic space restored. Until then, Ladakh’s peaceful struggle will continue,” he asserted.