Leh: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has termed the recent violence in Leh as a “conspiracy” and assured that all those responsible — including alleged outside elements — have been identified and will face strict action.
Talking to a news agency after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four dead and nearly a hundred injured on September 24, Gupta said the administration was committed to restoring peace and protecting Ladakh’s future.
“The videos that have surfaced show that an attempt was made to incite a peaceful atmosphere. Only after that such action was taken. We don’t want the future of our youth to be ruined. The ongoing investigation will reveal many things; many people are being questioned and orders are being issued regarding the alleged firing by security forces. All those involved have been identified. Any such incident will not be tolerated in the future,” the LG said.
Rejecting claims of a mass uprising, Gupta remarked: “This can’t be called a revolution. This could be called a conspiracy. Ladakh is still peaceful, but we won’t let those who want to disrupt the atmosphere do so.”
Giving details of the injuries, he said: “We had ninety injured the day before yesterday. Out of which, 19 remain under treatment, and hopefully, they’ll be discharged soon. Some had minor injuries, some more serious. Keeping that in mind, efforts are being made to restore peace here.”
As part of preventive measures, Section 163 has been imposed and schools and colleges have been temporarily closed. Gupta said a meeting of law and order officials, police, and security forces was being convened to review the situation.
The LG alleged that external forces had played a role in the unrest. “What happened in Ladakh is very unfortunate… there was a huge conspiracy behind this mob, many of whom were from outside, as we’ve noticed. Some people attempted to burn CRPF and police vehicles. Some names have come up, which are verified, and action is being taken accordingly. Investigations are ongoing,”he said.
Gupta also warned of strict legal action against those found linked to foreign influence in the protests. “Such action will be taken against people of this kind,” he added.
The statement comes as the CBI has launched a probe into alleged violations linked to the ongoing unrest, even as calls for judicial inquiry and dialogue continue to grow in the region.
