Days after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered a judicial probe into the September 24 violence in Leh — four persons were killed in police firing after protests turned violent — Ladakh civil society groups have agreed to resume talks with the Centre on October 22.
Following the September 24 violence, which erupted during protests over Ladakh’s demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status, and the subsequent arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), the Apex Body, Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had pulled out of talks that were scheduled with the Centre on October 6, saying they would not resume talks until an independent judicial probe was ordered into the police firing.
On Thursday, the MHA issued a notification stating that a probe would be conducted by former Supreme Court judge, Justice B S Chauhan, into the “circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action and the resultant unfortunate death of the four individuals.”
This paved the way for resumption of dialogue between the Centre and the two umbrella civil society groups spearheading Ladakh’s political movement.
Sources said the October 22 meeting, however, would not involve the High Powered Committee (HPC) set up under the leadership of Minister of State, Home, Nityanand Rai, to resolve issues related to Ladakh’s demands.
“This will be a meeting of the sub-committee of the HPC. There will be three members each from ABL and KDA in the meeting, apart from senior MHA officials and the Ladakh MP,” ABL co-chair Chhering Dorje Lakruk said, expressing happiness at the early scheduling of the meeting.
Centre’s outreach
The violence last month, which resulted in the deaths of four persons in police firing, had deepened the mistrust between the Centre and Ladakh’s civil society groups that had been negotiating for months. But the Centre’s decision to set up a judicial probe has opened a window for talks.
Sources said Rai would not be able to attend the meeting as he is touring Bihar, where Assembly elections are set to be held next month. However, joint secretary for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be present, along with other officials, said sources.
Story continues below this ad
Sources said the meeting is likely to discuss issues related to protection of land, institution of a public service commission and provision of two Lok Sabha MPs for Ladakh.
On September 24, some youths participating in a hunger strike called by Wangchuk over Ladakh’s demands had broken off and engaged in stone-pelting and arson. The mob had torched BJP’s Leh office and also attacked the Secretariat and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) office. To control the violence, police had opened fire, leading to the death of four people, including a Kargil war veteran.
Wangchuk was accused of instigating the crowds and arrested under NSA. He is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail. Ladakh police had also arrested over 50 people in connection with the violence. Sources said more than half of those arrested have been released on bail.
Pulling out of the talks earlier, Lakruk had said on September 29: “We want an impartial judicial inquiry under a Supreme Court judge into the excesses unleashed on our children, where they were shot in head and chest. So many of our children, who were merely bystanders, have been beaten up and put in jails. These are students, not criminals. The vice president of our ABL, its youth (wing) president, our women (wing) president, our joint secretary have all been booked under baseless charges. All these cases must be withdrawn and those in jail should be released.”
Story continues below this ad
These issues, sources said, would be dealt with by the HPC when Rai returns to the negotiating process. “This meeting will focus on Sixth Schedule and statehood. Other issues related to the September 24 violence and subsequent police action would be dealt with by the enquiry committee and the HPC when it meets,” an MHA official said.
Earlier, the ABL had also raised the issue of a negative campaign unleashed against Ladakh as one of the reasons for pulling out of talks.
“We are being given the tag of being anti-national and being in conspiracy with Pakistan… We will not go for talks until this is cleared. We will not tolerate this stain of being anti-national on our children. Ladakhis will never tolerate this allegation as reward for all the loyalty they have shown towards the nation,” Lakruk had said.
Taking exception to certain allegations made by the government, Lakruk had said, “LG sahab conducted a press conference here making serious allegations against us. That we are acting on the directions of foreign powers. Then the DGP did a press conference and said he suspected the hand of Pakistan in all this. He said Sonam Wangchuk was involved in anti national activities. We will not tolerate such insinuations on Ladakh at all. Our people are very hurt by this. If the youth hit the streets, the government will be responsible.”
Story continues below this ad
Sources said the MHA has promised to Ladakh civil society groups that these issues, too, will be addressed later through the HPC.
