The Apex Body Leh asserts that recent protests for statehood in Ladakh were peaceful, denying any involvement by activist Sonam Wangchuk in the violence that occurred during the demonstrations.
Leh (Ladakh) [India], September 26 (ANI) — The Apex Body Leh, which is spearheading the movement for statehood in Ladakh, emphasized on Friday that their protests have remained peaceful. They attributed the violence that erupted on September 24 to a segment of the youth who lost control during the demonstrations.
During a press conference held in Leh, representatives from the Apex Body specifically refuted claims regarding activist Sonam Wangchuk’s involvement in the unrest that coincided with his ongoing hunger strike. A member of the Apex Body stated, “Our movement will be peaceful and nonviolent. To promote this, we initiated prayers from all religions.”
The member elaborated on the events leading up to the violence, noting that when Wangchuk began his hunger strike, a small group of supporters was present. They had called for a “Leh Bandh” on September 24, which attracted a larger crowd than anticipated, particularly among the youth.
“On September 23, two individuals involved in the protest were hospitalized. Upon learning this, a significant number of young people gathered at the hospital. On the day of the bandh, the turnout exceeded our expectations, with a substantial portion of the crowd being youth,” the member explained.
Despite efforts by senior leaders to maintain order, the situation escalated, leading to vandalism at the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office. “After this incident, the youth became uncontrollable; they wanted to protest outside, but we tried to stop them. Our senior leaders ordered them to cease their actions, but they did not comply. They proceeded to the BJP office and vandalized it,” the member said.
The situation intensified when police responded with force. “The police targeted the protestors with bullets. There was no prior warning or use of tear gas. The protestors were educated but unemployed and expressed their anger,” the Apex Body member added.
The Apex Body Leh criticized the portrayal of their protests as anti-national on social media and rejected the narrative that blamed Sonam Wangchuk for inciting violence. “Certain YouTube channels are falsely claiming that weapons were seized. This is incorrect. There is an effort to label our protest as anti-national. Some individuals are suggesting foreign involvement, while others are blaming Sonam Wangchuk or the Congress party. We believe these narratives are unfounded,” the Apex Body stated.
The demonstration, which aimed to demand statehood for Ladakh and the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, turned violent, resulting in damage to the BJP office in Leh.
As a precautionary measure, prohibitions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, remain in effect in Leh, which includes a ban on gatherings of five or more individuals in the district.
Source: Original article