Shutdown in Kargil over new division

On Monday, major parts of Kargil, including the main town, observed a shutdown to protest against the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir government to set up permanent headquarters of the newly carved out administrative and revenue division of Ladakh in Leh.

Shops and other businesses in the landlocked district remained shut and transport services were off the roads.

The call for the strike had been issued by a coordination committee of the local organisations, which has alleged that Kargil has been “neglected” and “discriminated against” by successive governments. It added that making Leh the permanent headquarters of the newly created administrative and revenue division under SRO 110 is the height of disregard to the wishes and needs of the people of Kargil.

Sajjad Kargili, the spokesman of the ‘Coordination Committee for Civil Disobedience against SRO 110,’ told reporters that the approach of governor Satya Pal Malik is “autocratic” as he is not ready to listen to the grievances of the people of Kargil. “He is wholly and solely responsible for polarising the situation,” he said. Earlier on Sunday, thousands of people had marched along the streets of Kargil to demand that Kargil and Leh be made the headquarters of the newly carved out division for six months on rotational basis.