The LAB had announced the “border (Pashmina) march” to Changthang, near the China border, to highlight the condition of grazers.In a move apparently aimed at countering the march, Leh District Magistrate (DM) Santosh Sukhadeve said on Friday that prohibitory orders issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) would be in force on April 7 and directed that no procession, rally or march should be taken out without his prior approval.The DM said the senior superintendent of police has reported about reliable inputs indicating a possible breach of peace and public tranquillity in the district.”No one shall use vehicle-mounted or other loudspeakers without prior approval from the competent authority. No public gathering without prior approval of the competent authority shall be allowed. No one shall make any statements which have the potential to disturb communal harmony and public tranquillity and which may lead to law-and-order problems in the district,” the DM’s order said.”All persons shall ensure that they follow the Model Code of Conduct and that all the activities are according to the law,” it added.In a separate order, Additional Director General of Police S D Singh Jamwal ordered the scaling down of the speed of internet and mobile data services of 3G, 4G and 5G connections and public 5G Wi-Fi facilities to 2G within a 10-kilometre radius of Leh city for 24 hours from 6 pm on Saturday.In another order, the DM prohibited the posting or sharing of such messages on social media that have the potential to disturb communal harmony, peace and tranquillity and may lead to a law-and-order situation in the district.”It shall be the responsibility of the admins of WhatsApp groups or social media platforms to monitor and filter such content immediately,” the order read.Wangchuk said they were expecting the government to stop the march as “there are many things to keep under the wraps. The restriction ahead of the border march is an overreaction”.He said the deployment of police and paramilitary forces with full riot gear, calling volunteers to police stations and threatening them, besides causing inconvenience to people after turning Leh into a “war zone” show that there are chances of a clash under a well thought out conspiracy to sabotage the agitation of Ladakhis for their democratic rights.Wangchuk, who held a hunger strike for 21 days till March 26, said they strongly believe in peace and peaceful ways to highlight their demands, including those connected with the prevailing conditions of the Pashmina grazers.The LAB demanded immediate withdrawal of the prohibitory orders and restoration of internet services to normal speed to avoid any inconvenience to people, especially patients, tourists and students.
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