Leh, Oct 17: A day before the Silent Peace March announced by the Apex Body Leh, the District Magistrate (DM) of Leh, Romil Singh Donk issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, restricting public assemblies and processions within the Tehsil Leh jurisdiction.
The order, issued late Friday evening, cites a report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Leh, warning of a potential threat to public peace, safety, and law and order if large gatherings were allowed without regulation.
According to the directive, no procession, rally, or march shall be carried out without prior written approval from the competent authority. It further prohibits the use of vehicles fitted with loudspeakers and public statements that could disturb peace or provoke unrest.
“Assembly of five or more persons shall remain prohibited within the jurisdiction of Tehsil Leh,” the order states, adding that the decision has been taken ex-parte as individual notices could not be served immediately.
The restrictions come amid growing public anticipation for the Silent Peace March called by the Apex Body Leh for Saturday, intended as a peaceful demonstration of unity and remembrance for victims of the September 24 incident, which claimed four lives and injured nearly 90 people.
The Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been jointly leading a movement demanding constitutional safeguards, statehood for Ladakh, job protection for locals, and preservation of land and culture. While the organisers have reiterated that the march would remain peaceful and non-violent, the administration appears to have acted out of caution to prevent any possible disturbance.
Meanwhile, educational institutions across Leh are expected to remain closed today, though no formal order has been issued by the administration. The move is seen as a precautionary step amid tightened restrictions and heightened security arrangements.
Security and police forces have been deployed at key locations, including Polo Ground, Main Market, and Shanti Stupa—the route originally proposed for the march.
Earlier, Chief Secretary of Ladakh Dr. Pawan Kotwal appealed to residents to maintain calm and avoid large gatherings, noting that the government has already ordered a judicial inquiry, headed by Justice (Retd.) B.S. Chauhan, into the September 24 incident.
The order has come as a setback for many who had planned to join the silent procession. The Apex Body Leh is yet to issue a formal statement in response to the restrictions. Civil society members, however, have appealed for restraint and dialogue, urging both the administration and public representatives to find a peaceful and democratic resolution.
As Leh wakes to a day of caution and quiet anticipation, the prevailing sentiment remains one of hope—that peace and dialogue will once again define Ladakh’s way forward.
