SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body functionaries Sonam Wangchuk and Chering Dorjay Lakrook gave Union government a one-month deadline to withdraw criminal cases against around 80 protesters charged during last year’s agitation for Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh, compensate families of four demonstrators killed in police firing, and provide relief to those seriously wounded, warning of a fresh movement if their demands remain unmet.“People in Ladakh are deeply hurt as four unarmed civilians lost their lives last year and dozens were wounded. We hope government will review what happened and provide compensation to the families of those killed (on Sept 24 last year in Leh) and withdraw all cases against those who were arrested and jailed,” Wangchuk said Thursday in Leh.“We are giving government about one month to address these issues. If it fails to do so, we will be compelled to launch another movement in Ladakh,” he said, adding Ladakh “should be governed with trust and respect, not fear”.Lakrook condemned the recent police action against NEET paper leak protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi but called the crackdown in Leh far harsher. He alleged the response from media, people and political parties to the use of force in Ladakh was far weaker. “Every citizen deserves the same concern and justice, whether they live in Ladakh or elsewhere in India.”
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Lakrook said LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance had pursued their four-point agenda for years, but talks with Centre had yielded little progress. “There has been some progress but there is still no decision on our core demands,” he said, describing Ladakh as a strategically sensitive region whose concerns should not be pushed to the back burner.After the firing on Sept 24, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions, suspended mobile internet and arrested more than 70 people, including Wangchuk, who was accused of inciting protesters. Wangchuk was held under NSA in Jodhpur jail until Centre revoked his detention in March. Talks resumed after his release and he described the May 22 meeting with Centre as positive after it agreed to discuss Article 371-like protections for Ladakh.