The Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Friday rejected claims of a “foreign hand” in the recent violence in Leh that left four people dead and nearly 90 injured, while demanding a judicial probe into the incident.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay admitted that the violence on September 24 spiralled after “youngsters went out of control” but alleged that police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel responded with excessive force, firing directly at protesters without using standard crowd-control measures such as water cannons or warning shots.
“We tried to restrain them, but the police fired indiscriminately. There was no warning, no tear gas, no water cannon. Most of the injured were hit by bullets or pellets, which shows excessive use of force,” Dorjay told reporters.
The protest was triggered after discontent over the Centre scheduling talks with LAB for October 6, despite worsening health conditions of participants in a hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. According to Dorjay, more than 7,500 people, largely youth, gathered at the strike venue on September 24, compared to the usual 500. The agitation soon escalated into stone-pelting at the Hill Development Council office and vandalism at a BJP office.
Dismissing allegations that the mob was armed, Dorjay said, “There was an attempt to give it an anti-national colour. Protesters removed party flags but did not touch the national flag. Many even carried the tricolour.”
He also refuted suggestions by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta and others about foreign involvement, calling it an attempt to deflect blame. “If there was a foreign hand, what were the security agencies doing? Outsiders may have been injured, but that was because of indiscriminate firing,” he said.
Dorjay further claimed that newly deployed CRPF personnel beat up bystanders and that the force’s presence was part of a plan to “suppress the movement.”
On the way forward, he said the LAB has sought bail for those detained and will resume talks with the Union home ministry after the funerals of the victims. “It is crucial to know why live bullets were used on the head and chest. A judicial probe is essential to establish accountability,” he added.
