File photo: Security personnel stand guard on a road near the statue of King Sengge Namgyal amid a curfew, in Leh, Ladakh. (Picture credit: PTI)
SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body (LAB), a grouping of religious and political organisations in Ladakh, rejected Monday government’s claims of normalcy in the region and accused authorities of harassing village heads (gobas) by summoning them for questioning“In our villages, gobas (nambardars) play a vital role. Nothing happens without their consent. When LAB began its hunger strike on September 10, village heads informed their villages about it. Now they are being summoned and questioned. We see this as an attack on our culture and will not accept it,” LAB co-chairman Chhering Dorje Lakruk said at a presser in Leh.Environmental activist and LAB member Sonam Wangchuk led the fast demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh before the protests snowballed into violence on Sept 24, killing four people and injuring over 70. Wangchuk was arrested on Sept 26 and remains jailed under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).In Ladakh, a goba is a village headman chosen periodically by villagers through voice vote. The system remains effective as people traditionally follow the gobas’ guidance. “Some gobas were detained earlier but released due to our intervention. It is their job to inform people about the issues and the hunger strike of LAB. They shouldn’t be harassed for it,” Lakruk said.He questioned the government’s claims of normalcy, pointing to the gobas’ questioning and continued internet suspension. “The restrictions are still in place and people are being harassed,” Lakruk said. Govt should restore internet, stop arrests, lift restrictions and rebuild public confidence if it wants to normalise the situation, the LAB co-chairman said.On Saturday, Ladakh authorities had asserted that the situation was returning to normalcy while reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to a dialogue to address the aspirations of the people. The government had lauded the people of Ladakh were known for their peace-loving nature, fierce patriotism and their contribution to nation-building in securing its frontiers.After the violence of Sept 24, the authorities had imposed curfew-like restrictions, suspended internet, and arrested more than 60 people. While the administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence, LAB and another umbrella group Kargil Democratic Alliance have rejected it, reiterating their demand for a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court judge.The two groups also withdrew from talks scheduled for Monday with a Union home ministry high-powered committee, seeking Wangchuk’s release and an impartial investigation.
