Leh: LAB Denies Foreign Involvement in Violence, Calls for Judicial Probe
Leh: Acknowledging that recent violence in Leh was triggered by youngsters who “lost control,” Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chering Dorjay on Friday dismissed claims of a “foreign hand” behind the unrest and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident that left four dead and 90 injured.
Dorjay alleged that police and CRPF personnel fired indiscriminately at protesters on Wednesday, without attempting non-lethal measures such as water cannons or warning shots to control the mob.
“We have made it clear that if the Home Ministry does not consult us promptly, we will intensify our agitation. However, our movement will remain peaceful and non-violent. The 35-day hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk began with a joint prayer meeting on September 10, and the Centre extended an invitation for talks on October 6,” Dorjay told reporters.
Wangchuk, who was scheduled to address the media, could not attend as he was arrested en route to the venue. Dorjay was accompanied by several LAB members.
He explained that the date of the scheduled meeting had caused concern, particularly among the youth associated with the LAB, leading them to call a strike on September 24. The protest was prompted by the worsening condition of two participants, who required hospitalization.
“Typically, around 500 people visit the hunger-strike site daily. On September 24, over 7,500 people, mostly youth, unexpectedly gathered and went out of control,” Dorjay said.
Attempts to prevent the crowd from marching outside the venue failed, he added. “Our chairman, Thupstan Chhewang, intervened, and we asked youth leaders to control the crowd. Initially, they threw stones at the Hill Development Council office, and later vandalized a nearby BJP office.”
According to Dorjay, police then fired directly at the crowd without prior warning, tear gas, or water cannons, further escalating tensions. “The youngsters, aged 15 to 26, appeared educated but came from poor families. Contrary to claims, the mob was not armed.”
He rejected assertions that the violence had an anti-national motive. “When they attacked the BJP office, they removed all party flags but left the national flag untouched. They also removed photographs of B.R. Ambedkar and our revered Lama Kushok Bakula before setting the office on fire. Many protesters carried the tricolour.”
Dorjay also refuted claims of foreign involvement, citing remarks by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta. “Some have suggested that people from Doda, Nepal, Tibet, and Bihar were among the injured. These individuals were bystanders, not protesters. The growing population of outsiders in Leh means that indiscriminate firing can injure non-participants.”
He dismissed narratives blaming Wangchuk or Congress leaders for instigating the crowd. “The anger arose because people felt the government was not taking their concerns seriously,” he said.
Dorjay alleged that the recently deployed CRPF personnel used excessive force against bystanders. “About 95 percent of the injured were hit by bullets or pellets. The CRPF’s presence appears to have been part of a plan to suppress our movement,” he said.
Pointing to multiple agencies operating in Ladakh, he questioned the LG’s claims of foreign involvement: “If a foreign hand was responsible, what were these agencies doing? Such claims seem intended to cover up failures.”
On discussions with New Delhi, Dorjay said they met with Home Ministry officials and plan to reconvene after the funeral of the four victims.
Calling for a judicial probe, he stressed: “It is crucial to investigate why live fire was used. According to procedure, bullets should not be fired at the head or chest, making this action completely illegal.”
Finally, Dorjay confirmed that the LAB’s legal team is working to secure bail for those detained during the unrest.
