Leh apex body accuses govt of using excess force

SRINAGAR: Leh remained under curfew for the third consecutive day on Friday, with mobile internet suspended, even as no fresh violence was reported two days after four people were killed in protests in the border region.

A home affairs ministry (MHA) team held meetings with lieutenant governor Kavinder Gupta, senior police officials, and some leaders present in Leh to review the situation.

The curfew was imposed on Wednesday evening after violence during a shutdown call by Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on demand for statehood for Ladakh resulted in four deaths and injuries to 80 others.


A proposed preparatory meeting of ABL and KDA representatives with the MHA officials planned for the weekend may be put off to Monday as ABL members want to attend the last rites of the four people killed in September 24 protests.

A high-powered committee meeting between the representatives of Ladakh and MHA is now scheduled for October 6, officials said. "The situation is under control. The restrictions are likely to be relaxed following the assessment of the situation on ground," an official said.

Meanwhile, Chering Dorjay Lakruk, co-chairman of ABL, alleged that the government used excessive and indiscriminate force to quell the protests on September 24.

ABL members also accused the central government and the LG of alleging that there was foreign hand in their protests.

"A lot of outsiders are always present in Ladakh and they were bystanders during these protests who were targeted by the police and paramilitary forces," Lakruk alleged.