Leh body announces march, blackout for firing deaths probe

SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body (LAB), an umbrella group of political and religious organisations in Leh, announced a silent march and “blackout” on Saturday in solidarity with those killed, injured, and arrested during a September 24 firing on protesters demanding statehood and autonomy for the Union territory (UT). Among those held are environment activist and LAB member Sonam Wangchuk.

“We are organising a peaceful and silent march on Saturday,” LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said at a presser Thursday in Leh with others. The protests in Leh, Kargil and elsewhere will be followed by the blackout Saturday evening, the LAB members announced.


“This will convey that darkness still looms large in Ladakh. The govt is not acting the way it should. There is no normalcy. People will also wear black ribbons,” Dorjay said, seconded by his colleagues.

Hours later, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) backed the plan, with its chief Sajjad Kargili saying the march will reinforce demands for an “impartial and time-bound judicial inquiry into the September 24 barbaric firing on unarmed protesters”.

The LAB members claimed the government had not taken any initiative to resume talks and fulfil their demands. On Wednesday, Dorjay had said they would wait a few days before holding any marches as the Union home ministry (MHA) had informed them that it was considering a judicial inquiry into the deaths. However, Thursday’s presser appeared to suggest a deadlock.

Security forces had on September 24 allegedly opened fire on the protesters seeking Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh after the demonstrations turned violent, killing four and injuring over 70. Authorities had later imposed curfew-like restrictions, suspended mobile Internet, and arrested over 70 people, including Wangchuk, who was charged under National Security Act (NSA).

Since then, the authorities have restored Internet access, lifted some restrictions and claimed return of normalcy, an assertion disputed by LAB, KDA and others.

Earlier, the MHA had announced Oct 6 as the date for talks on the autonomy demands but LAB and the others withdrew, demanding a judicial probe led by a retired Supreme Court judge into the alleged firing deaths and release of all detainees, including Wangchuk.