Days after violence, govt reaches out to Leh outfit for talks

T he Centre is learnt to have reached out to a senior leader of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), a day after two Ladakh outfits jointly announced suspension of talks in the wake of death of four protesters in firing by security personnel and detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

The outreach came as a local court in Leh granted interim bail to 26 of the around 50 persons arrested in connection with last week’s violence.

Sources said Central government officials contacted LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay, who confirmed the development to The Tribune. Members of the apex body said Dorjay had conveyed that talks could resume only if the demands jointly raised by the LAB and KDA were met. “Dialogue can begin once the demands announced by Ladakh leaders are fulfilled,” an apex body member said.

Members of the LAB along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been leading the agitation for Ladakh’s statehood and the Sixth Schedule status, announced the suspension of talks with the Centre. They put forward several new demands, including a judicial probe into the violence and the release of those detained after the clashes. The next high-level meeting was scheduled for October 6.

Violence broke out last week during a hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, when protesters, mostly youth, torched the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council building and several vehicles. Security forces opened fire, resulting in four deaths.

In the aftermath, the Ladakh Police arrested more than 50 persons. On Wednesday evening, Mohd Shafi Lassu, president of the Bar Association, Leh, said the court granted interim bail to 26 detainees, including two migrant labourers from Bihar. “We had applied for bail for 39 persons arrested on September 24. The court has granted interim bail to 26, who are likely to be released on Thursday morning,” he said. Those bailed out must appear before court again on October 4.

Lassu said bail applications for others were pending. Dorjay welcomed the court’s order, calling it a “good beginning”.

Meanwhile, at least 12 youth, who had been on the run after the protests, had surrendered before a local court last week.