LEH, SEPTEMBER 26: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has categorically dismissed allegations of any “foreign hand” behind the recent violence that shook Leh, insisting instead on a judicial probe into the incident that left four people dead and more than 90 injured. LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay, addressing the media on Friday, admitted that the violence was triggered by a group of youngsters who “lost control” during the protests but strongly rejected attempts to link the unrest to external elements. He accused security forces of responding with excessive and indiscriminate force, firing directly into the crowd without prior warning or the use of standard crowd-control measures.
Dorjay alleged that police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel resorted to live firing without first deploying water cannons, tear gas shells, or issuing warnings, a move he described as both unlawful and disproportionate. “There was no attempt to calm the situation before bullets were fired. Most of those injured were hit by bullets or pellets, which shows excessive use of force,” he said, adding that many of those present were peaceful demonstrators carrying the national flag. He noted that the firing not only intensified the anger of the young protesters, aged mostly between 15 and 26, but also injured several bystanders, including non-local residents of Leh.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of growing frustration over the Centre’s delayed response to Ladakh’s demands. Dorjay said that the ongoing 35-day hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk began with a peaceful joint prayer on September 10, prompting the Union government to schedule talks for October 6. However, the delay caused resentment, particularly among younger supporters, after the deteriorating health of two hunger strike participants led to their hospitalization. “This frustration boiled over on September 24, when an unexpected crowd of over 7,500 people — instead of the usual 500 — gathered at the protest site,” Dorjay explained.
Despite LAB leaders’ efforts to contain the situation and prevent a march, sections of the crowd turned unruly, pelting stones at the Hill Development Council office and later vandalizing a nearby BJP office. Dorjay emphasized that the mob was unarmed and that their actions were misrepresented as anti-national. “They removed party flags but left the national flag untouched. They even carefully removed photographs of B. R. Ambedkar and Lama Kushok Bakula before setting fire to the premises,” he said.
Responding to claims by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta and others that foreign forces were involved, Dorjay dismissed the theory as a baseless attempt to divert attention from administrative failures. He argued that the presence of injured individuals from outside Ladakh, including from Doda, Nepal, Tibet, and Bihar, only reflected the region’s changing demographics and the indiscriminate nature of the firing. “Outsiders are now part of Leh’s population. If security forces shoot blindly into a crowd, bystanders are bound to get hurt,” he said.
Dorjay also rejected suggestions that Sonam Wangchuk or opposition leaders had instigated the violence, arguing that the anger stemmed from public disillusionment with what they perceived as government indifference. He accused the CRPF, recently deployed from outside the region, of beating bystanders and protesters alike. “Their deployment appears to be part of a deliberate attempt to suppress our movement,” he alleged.
The LAB has demanded a judicial inquiry to uncover the circumstances that led to the use of live ammunition against civilians and to hold those responsible accountable. Dorjay pointed out that police procedures prohibit aiming live rounds at the head or chest, raising serious concerns about the legality of the actions taken. “It is crucial to find out why the police felt compelled to open fire and whether due protocols were followed,” he said. The LAB’s legal team, he added, is working to secure bail for those detained after the clashes.
Despite the violence, LAB leaders reiterated their commitment to peaceful protest and constructive dialogue. Dorjay stressed that the movement’s character remains non-violent and that they are prepared to meet Union Home Ministry officials after the funerals of the victims. “We have made it clear that we want meaningful engagement, not confrontation,” he said, warning, however, that the agitation could intensify if talks are delayed further.