SRINAGAR, July 13 — Curfew was imposed in Leh town of Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir today following tension between the majority Buddhist and minority Muslim population. Over a dozen persons of both communities, including Sonam Gombo, vice-president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), were arrested as a precautionary measure.

Tension has gripped the area since Monday last after the reports of alleged derogatory remarks being made by Sonam Gombo against the Quran. Demonstrations are being held for the past three days by the two communities in view of the alleged derogatory remarks.

Senior civil administration and police officials have already reached the town to take stock of the situation. These include the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather and the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Mr Khursheed Ahmad Ganai. They urged both the communities to help the administration in maintaining peace and amity in the town. The DIG, Police, Mr K. Rajendra, is camping at Leh to oversee the law and order situation.

According to reports received here, the Muslims on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Leh, demanding action against the LBA vice-president for allegedly passing derogatory remarks against the holy book. The LBA has also expressed concern over the statement of one of its leaders. Both associations of Buddhists and Muslims held a meeting and denounced the remarks of Mr Gombo.

On Tuesday evening, three Buddhist monks were shot dead by gunmen in the remote area of Rungdum on Kargil-Zanskar road in Kargil district of the frontier cold desert region of Ladakh.

An official spokesman said that another monk who escaped, reported the incident at the police post, Panikhar, yesterday. A massive manhunt has been launched by the police in the area, about 100 km from Kargil. The bodies of the three monks have been brought down to Panikhar, the spokesman said.