Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: Kargil remained tense with complete shutdown including that of the Government offices with people hitting the streets in thousands today demanding rotational headquarters of the division given to Ladakh by the State Government.
All offices of the State Government and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil remained closed today while shopkeepers and other business establishments also remained shut as mark of protest against the Government decision to keep headquarters of the newly created Ladakh division permanently at Leh.
Cutting across their party affiliations, representatives of all political parties, social and religious organizations, student and trade bodies marched in Kargil town shouting slogans in support of their demand. Traffic in majority parts of Kargil town remained suspended as entire town was filled with protesters.
People recalled that such an agitation in the form of huge protests had been unheard of in the history of Kargil, wherein people not only from Kargil town but even from far off villages had joined the protest to force the State Government to change its decision of keeping headquarters of Ladakh division permanently at Leh.
The people have been demanding that headquarters of the Ladakh division should be rotated after every six months in Leh and Kargil, the two districts which formed Ladakh division.
Significantly, the protests continued throughout the day today in Kargil.
Late last night, thousands of people had marched to Pashkum on Kargil-Leh National Highway and didn’t allow newly appointed Divisional Commissioner of Ladakh, Saugat Biswas to reach Kargil from Leh.
Meanwhile, a meeting of public representatives was convened by Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Vikas Kundal to assess the situation in wake of the protest call given by different political and religious organizations.
SSP Kargil Dr Vinod Kumar besides other concerned officers of the civil and police administration and representatives of religious and political organizations were present in the meeting.
Protestors informed the Deputy Commissioner that decision with regard to any other action or bandh call will be taken after an assurance from the Government on SRO 110.
The DC, however, urged the representatives of the religious, political, social and other organizations to be patient and cooperate with the district administration. He added that the administration was is fully conscious of people’s sentiments and is in continuous touch with the State administration for early resolution of the issue.
Reports said that normal life has been completely paralyzed in Kargil town and outskirts in view of bandh and protests by the people.
Reports added that representatives of all political parties, social, religious, student, trade and other organizations have been joining protest rallies seeking rotational divisional headquarters of Ladakh region at Leh and Kargil.
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