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Zanskar under curfew after rioting over conversions
SRINAGAR: Authorities imposed curfew restrictions in remote Zansakar in Ladakh as Muslims and Buddhists clashed over conversion for the second time since September 24. Police said three persons including the local Tehsildar, the highest civilian officer who operates from Padam, the centre of the town, was injured and is being flown to Srinagar for treatment.
"Police has taken cognizance of clashes between two communities in Zanaskar," a police spokesman in Srinagar said. "Three persons including the Tehsildar were injured who are being shifted to Srinagar."
Around 26 Buddhist from six families converted to Islam in the local Jamia Masjid on the last Friday of September. Of them five are residents of Padam, the centre of the remote town, and one lived in Zangla. As the local Muslim minority took the converts on their shoulders and moved around in the market, it triggered tensions.
In the immediate reaction, the Buddhist majority, enforced a strike and started social boycott of the converts. Zanskar Buddhist Association that is the main party of the majority community led a campaign against the conversions. Apart from writing letters to the Muslim community leaders, they had threatened of a larger agitation in case it does not stop. They accuse Muslims of luring the families to Islam, an allegation that the local clergy rejects.
During the last fortnight, however, the pressures from the majority community created a situation that the family living in Zangla, returned back to Buddhist fold making Muslims allege that it was done under pressure. This triggered the new tensions in the belt in which three persons were injured and police imposed curfew restrictions.
Zanskar is the Buddhist majority belt of Muslim majority Kargil district. Sending reinforcement to the place becomes increasingly difficult because it is located 332 kms from Kargil. Zanskar has around seven months long disconnect with Kargil because of massive snowfall on the passes in between. In extreme emergencies, the people opt for Chaddar - the name given to the frozen surface of Zanskar river, that is used for movement between the two towns during winters. This reduced the distance to only 157 kms but sometimes the movement on this slippery river proves dangerous. At least one Western tourist died this fall using the Chaddar. Now authorities are implementing a road that will connect Zanskar with Leh bypassing Kargil which would improve connectivity.
Conversions have remained a major issue in Ladakh region. Muslims and Buddhists have lived in harmony for centuries but inter-faith marriages instantly became a major issue in 1989. It triggered a massive movement fuelling Union Territory status demand. It eventually led to the setting up of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh to cool the embers. Though earlier the tradition of polyandry was a factor leading to conversions and inter-faith marriages, the incidence is much less now.
The twin district arid desert of Ladakh is witnessing peculiar demographic upheavals especially after it was opened for tourism. In last forty years ending 2001, census analysis suggests the Buddhists have lost 7.96 percent - as their percentage share in the combined population of Leh and Kargil districts. Though Muslims have improved their tally by 1.97 percent, Hindus are the real gainers who witnessed an improvement of 5.57 percent - almost tripling its share since 1981. Right now (2011 census is awaited) Muslims constitute 47.40 percent of Ladakh with Buddhists playing second fiddle with 45.87 percent. Hindus, Sikhs and Christians own desert's 6.22, 0.31 and 0.17 percent slice in the population, respectively.
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VHP to support Leh bandh
Jammu, Octo Oct 28 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sunday announced its support to a call for a shutdown of Leh Monday. The civil society of Buddhist-majority Ladakh has called for a strike to protest the "forcible conversion of Buddhists by the Muslims".
Twenty-six Buddhists of Zanskar tehsil in Kargil district allegedly converted to Islam last month.
VHP state president Rama Kant Dubey said: "Forcible conversions of these Buddhists in Zanskar area of Kargil were done at behest of the Muslim community, against the wishes of Buddhists. There is criminal silence of the administration against the people who compelled the Buddhists to embrace Islam. It shows the connivance of the administration."
Dubey questioned why no action was taken against officials despite a protest lodged by the VHP and the Buddhists of those areas.
According to Muslim community leaders, "a few Buddhist families in Zanskar in Kargil district converted to Islam of their own free will without any force or coercion last month".
This led to communal tension in Zanskar. Both communities clashed last week resulting in damage to property and injury to protestors. The administration had to impose a curfew Oct 24.
SRINAGAR: Authorities imposed curfew restrictions in remote Zansakar in Ladakh as Muslims and Buddhists clashed over conversion for the second time since September 24. Police said three persons including the local Tehsildar, the highest civilian officer who operates from Padam, the centre of the town, was injured and is being flown to Srinagar for treatment.
"Police has taken cognizance of clashes between two communities in Zanaskar," a police spokesman in Srinagar said. "Three persons including the Tehsildar were injured who are being shifted to Srinagar."
Around 26 Buddhist from six families converted to Islam in the local Jamia Masjid on the last Friday of September. Of them five are residents of Padam, the centre of the remote town, and one lived in Zangla. As the local Muslim minority took the converts on their shoulders and moved around in the market, it triggered tensions.
In the immediate reaction, the Buddhist majority, enforced a strike and started social boycott of the converts. Zanskar Buddhist Association that is the main party of the majority community led a campaign against the conversions. Apart from writing letters to the Muslim community leaders, they had threatened of a larger agitation in case it does not stop. They accuse Muslims of luring the families to Islam, an allegation that the local clergy rejects.
During the last fortnight, however, the pressures from the majority community created a situation that the family living in Zangla, returned back to Buddhist fold making Muslims allege that it was done under pressure. This triggered the new tensions in the belt in which three persons were injured and police imposed curfew restrictions.
Zanskar is the Buddhist majority belt of Muslim majority Kargil district. Sending reinforcement to the place becomes increasingly difficult because it is located 332 kms from Kargil. Zanskar has around seven months long disconnect with Kargil because of massive snowfall on the passes in between. In extreme emergencies, the people opt for Chaddar - the name given to the frozen surface of Zanskar river, that is used for movement between the two towns during winters. This reduced the distance to only 157 kms but sometimes the movement on this slippery river proves dangerous. At least one Western tourist died this fall using the Chaddar. Now authorities are implementing a road that will connect Zanskar with Leh bypassing Kargil which would improve connectivity.
Conversions have remained a major issue in Ladakh region. Muslims and Buddhists have lived in harmony for centuries but inter-faith marriages instantly became a major issue in 1989. It triggered a massive movement fuelling Union Territory status demand. It eventually led to the setting up of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council for Leh to cool the embers. Though earlier the tradition of polyandry was a factor leading to conversions and inter-faith marriages, the incidence is much less now.
The twin district arid desert of Ladakh is witnessing peculiar demographic upheavals especially after it was opened for tourism. In last forty years ending 2001, census analysis suggests the Buddhists have lost 7.96 percent - as their percentage share in the combined population of Leh and Kargil districts. Though Muslims have improved their tally by 1.97 percent, Hindus are the real gainers who witnessed an improvement of 5.57 percent - almost tripling its share since 1981. Right now (2011 census is awaited) Muslims constitute 47.40 percent of Ladakh with Buddhists playing second fiddle with 45.87 percent. Hindus, Sikhs and Christians own desert's 6.22, 0.31 and 0.17 percent slice in the population, respectively.
=====================================================
VHP to support Leh bandh
Jammu, Octo Oct 28 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Sunday announced its support to a call for a shutdown of Leh Monday. The civil society of Buddhist-majority Ladakh has called for a strike to protest the "forcible conversion of Buddhists by the Muslims".
Twenty-six Buddhists of Zanskar tehsil in Kargil district allegedly converted to Islam last month.
VHP state president Rama Kant Dubey said: "Forcible conversions of these Buddhists in Zanskar area of Kargil were done at behest of the Muslim community, against the wishes of Buddhists. There is criminal silence of the administration against the people who compelled the Buddhists to embrace Islam. It shows the connivance of the administration."
Dubey questioned why no action was taken against officials despite a protest lodged by the VHP and the Buddhists of those areas.
According to Muslim community leaders, "a few Buddhist families in Zanskar in Kargil district converted to Islam of their own free will without any force or coercion last month".
This led to communal tension in Zanskar. Both communities clashed last week resulting in damage to property and injury to protestors. The administration had to impose a curfew Oct 24.
