Leh, Sept 25: A day after four persons were killed and more than 80 others were injured in widespread clashes amid a shutdown in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor of the Union territory, Kavinder Gupta, on Thursday chaired a security review meeting here and called for heightened vigilance to safeguard peace.
The shutdown and protest was called by a constituent of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in support of their demand to advance the proposed talks with the Centre on the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and statehood to Ladakh.
“The lieutenant governor chaired a high-level security review meeting to assess the emerging situation across Ladakh, emphasising the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across the UT,” the L-G’s office said in a post on X.
Officials said senior officers from the police, CRPF and civil administration attended the meeting and discussed in detail the prevailing law and order situation in the region.
Hundreds of protesters supporting the movement for statehood to Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule turned violent on Wednesday and set the BJP office in Leh and several vehicles on fire, prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in the town and its adjoining areas.
The Centre alleged the mob violence was guided by the “provocative statements” of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, while certain “politically motivated” individuals were not happy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakhi groups.
The climate activist, who was leading a hunger strike in Leh over the twin demands, called off his hunger strike after the violence on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, The CPI(M) has condemned the “brutal repression” in Ladakh, where violence erupted on Wednesday amid protests for statehood and inclusion under Sixth Schedule.
In a statement issued here, the Left party alleged that the Union government is responsible for creating the circumstances that led to violence in a traditionally peaceful place, and urged it to engage in “meaningful dialogue”.
“The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the brutal repression unleashed by the Union Territory administration under the Central government against the people of Ladakh. This violent crackdown has resulted in the tragic loss of four lives and left several others injured,” the statement read.
“For the past six years, the people of Ladakh have been demanding statehood with a fully empowered legislature, as well as the inclusion of the region under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This would grant them the constitutional safeguards and benefits enjoyed by people in many northeastern states,” it said.
The Left party said the demand for these rights has been consistently ignored by the BJP-led Central government.
“Frustrated by the government’s callous disregard for their legitimate demands and the refusal to address these concerns through several rounds of negotiations over the past three years, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and other people’s organisations launched a peaceful hunger strike that lasted 15 days. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, the Central government chose to respond with forceful arrests of those who went on hunger strike, which only led to widespread protests and unrest among people,” the CPI(M) said.
“Even after creating the circumstances responsible for this violence in a traditionally peaceful place, the Central government is now blaming the agitators.The CPI(M) urges the Central government to immediately cease all repressive measures and engage in meaningful negotiations with the representatives of the movement,” it said.
“Furthermore, we demand that the government provide adequate compensation to the families of those who lost their lives, and to those who were injured in the police repression,” it added.
Four people were killed and at least 80 injured in day-long clashes in Leh on Wednesday during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB).
LG Kavinder Gupta Reviews Security Situation in Leh, Calls For Heightened Vigilance
