Curfew remains in force for third day in Leh town
Leh, Sep 26 (PTI) A home ministry team held a series of meetings here to review the overall security situation as curfew remained in force for the third consecutive day in Leh town on Friday, officials said.
No untoward incident was reported from anywhere, officials said.
The curfew was clamped in the town on Wednesday evening after widespread violence resulted in the death of four persons and injuries to 90 others during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to advance talks with the Centre on demand for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
“The overall security situation remained peaceful across Ladakh.The restrictions are likely to be relaxed later in the day to allow people to buy essential commodities,” a police official said.
Over 50 persons were detained following the widespread clashes, while strict restrictions under prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major towns, including Kargil.
Police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear were seen patrolling the deserted streets to maintain law and order.
People in many areas complained that they are running short of essential supplies including ration, milk and vegetables.
Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk has ordered closure of all government and private schools, colleges, and other educational institutions for two days from Friday. Besides, anganwadi centres will also remain closed, the DM had said.
The officials said a high-level team of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs reached Leh on Thursday to review the security situation.
They had held a series of meetings with the Lt Governor and civil and police officers besides the representatives of the LAB.
“The meeting decided that a preparatory meeting with the Home Ministry will take place in New Delhi on September 27 or 28, subject to confirmation of date by the MHA. The meeting will be attended by three representatives each from the LAB and KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance) besides Ladakh MP (Mohd Hanifa Jan).
“The preparatory meeting shall be followed by an immediate official meeting of the Home Ministry with a High Powered Committee comprising seven members each from LAB and KDA on four-point agenda,” a joint statement issued by LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and co-chairman Chering Dorjay said.
LAB and the KDA have been jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of their demands – statehood, extension of sixth schedule of the constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil and Public Service Commission.
They have held several rounds of talks with the government in the past, reaching an agreement on job guarantees and the additional Lok Sabha seat which will be decided by the delimitation commission, leaving the focus on the demand for statehood and sixth schedule. The next round of talks with the Centre is scheduled for October 6.
Meanwhile, shops and business establishments opened in Kargil this morning after a day-long closure in response to a call given by KDA. However, policemen have been deployed in strength and were seen patrolling the sensitive areas of the town.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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