LEH (Kashmir English): The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has strongly rejected the Indian allegations of foreign involvement in the ongoing protests in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region, saying the claims are false, misleading and aimed at diverting attention from the genuine demands of Ladakhis.
Ashraf Ali, a senior LAB member, in a statement said the agitation that turned violent on September 24 stemmed purely from local frustration and had no external influence.
An insult to the people of Ladakh
“To project the agitation as being controlled by foreign hands is not only untrue but also an insult to the people of Ladakh,” he asserted.
He pointed out that nearly 90 civilians were wounded during brutal police action. Among the four civilians killed were a 23-year-old student and a 42-year-old member of Ladakh Scouts, he added.
The LAB reiterated its demand for a judicial inquiry into the incident to fix responsibility, including who ordered police firing on peaceful demonstrators.
The body stressed that raising the bogey of foreign elements would not resolve the genuine grievances that have triggered mass protests across Ladakh.
