As Sonam Wangchuk plans march to LAC on April 7, curbs on Internet speed in Ladakh, Section 144 in place

THE ADMINISTRATION of the Union Territory of Ladakh has ordered the imposition of Section 144 of CRPC in Leh following a call for a people’s march towards the Line of Actual Control, scheduled to be held on April 7. Additionally, police have issued orders for reduction of Internet speeds to 2G for 24 hours. Section 144 prohibits large assemblies of four or more people.

During his 21- day fast last month, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had called for the people of Ladakh to join him on a border march for an “onground check” of the alleged encroachment of grazing land at the India- China border. “10,0 0 0 Ladakhis will march to the borders,” he said.

Explaining the reasons for the march, Wangchuk said, “On one hand, they ( Ladakhis) are losing land to Indian corporates… roughly 1,50,000 square kilometres of prime pasture land. And on the other hand, they are losing pasture land to China, which is encroaching from the North and has captured huge chunks of Indian land in the last five years.”

He added that Wangchuk nomadic leaders, who he will march with, “will show us how far they used to go grazing earlier and where they have to stop now”.

The Leh District Magistrate, while imposing Section 14 4, cited “reliable inputs/ apprehensions of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the district” and the need to prevent “danger to human life”.

The magistrate’s order also mentions the model court of conduct being in place in Ladakh.

Shiv Darshan Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Ladakh has sought to reduce mobile data services up to 2G, “thereby suspending the mobile data of 3G, 4G, 5G and public Wifi facilities temporarily in the interest of maintenance of public peace”.

This comes into effect for 24 hours starting 6 pm on Saturday.