"We never want innocent blood to be shed here": Omar Abdullah amid growing statehood demand

Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 29 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that shedding of innocent blood shouldn't happen in the Union Territory and hoped that a situation like Leh doesn't develop here.
Speaking to reporters, CM Abdullah argued that granting statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir was not a favour, but a promise made by the centre.
"A situation like Leh should not form in J&K. It doesn't take time for any situation to worsen. We would never want innocent blood to be shed here. We will continue to raise our demand. Statehood is not a favour, it is a promise made by the central government to not only the people of J&K, but to the people of India and also to the Supreme Court," Abdullah said.
Referring to the three-step process of delimitation, elections and statehood, the Jammu and Kashmir CM further urged the centre to fulfil its promise of granting statehood and not take undue advantage of people remaining calm.
"Delimitation and elections have been done, now they have to fulfil their promise of statehood. People are very calm about the whole thing, but they should not take undue advantage of this. We had warned people of Ladakh that their demand for a UT could worsen their problems. They asked for a UT, but it did them no good," Abdullah said.
Two of the four individuals who lost their lives during the September 24 violence in Leh were reportedly cremated on Sunday under tight security. The final rites of the remaining two are scheduled for Monday, also amid heavy security arrangements.
The unrest, which prompted police to open fire during protests on September 26, claimed four lives in all. Authorities have maintained heightened vigilance throughout the region to prevent further incidents.
Meanwhile, the curfew in Leh has continued for the fifth consecutive day since the unrest began. Prohibitions under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, continue to be imposed in Leh following the violence on September 24.
Assembling five or more persons is prohibited in the district; no procession, rally, or march is to be carried out without prior written approval. Security personnel remain deployed across Leh.
People of Ladakh have been demanding the inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This Schedule of the Constitution contains Article 244(2) and 275(1), which reads, "Provisions as to the Administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram."
A total of 44 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals.
Among those arrested is Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and advocate for implementing the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh. He had been on a hunger strike, which he ended just as the violence broke out. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and is currently being held in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. He has been accused of inciting violence. (ANI)