SRINAGAR: Tension continued to grip Leh town of the Ladakh region while non-Buddhists and Kashmiri Muslim staged a dharan in the Lal Chowk demanding protection against violence let loose by Buddhist agitators.
A deputation of Kashmiris met the Deputy Commissioner and protested against the failure of the administration to provide protection against Buddhist agitators who indulged in violence and arson last week.
Ameena a Kashmiri Muslim, who was injured in violence died on August 8 in a hospital.
Police sources here said that a bullet hit Ameena by mistake.
The Army was patrolling Chouglamsar, Siang and Hazaria to prevent the agitators from indulging in violence. In other areas armed police and paramilitary forces guarded houses and Government buildings.
According to reports certain Buddhist militants hurled stones on houses and the police from hillocks.
No relaxation was given in cur few.
These reports said that some tourists remained stranded in Kargil and only a couple of cars and buses were given escort up to Leh.
Kashmiri Muslims and Hindus carried placards. On one of the placards was written: “We are victims of State Government’s indifference and Buddhist violence.” They raised slogans condemning the way Buddhist militants communalized the situation, More companies of the police have been sent to Leh to help the security forces in maintaining law and order and for providing escorts to tourists.
In addition to this the government posted S. S. Rizvi, Additional Chief Secretary, as the Administrator of Ladakh. He left Sringar for Leh and he would be in charge of law and order in the Leh and Kargil areas.
Meanwhile the National Conference leaders in Ladakh have blamed. The Congress (I) for engineering the trouble, but the Congress (I) is equally vehement in denouncing the NC(F). Congress (I) leaders hold the NC(F) responsible and refer to assault by Buddhist militants on the Congress (I) MLA, T. Samphal, ‘as an evidence.
Official sources said that the situation in Leh was under control and adequate police arrangements had been made to keep the situation in the Muslim dominated area of kargil under check.
According to another some minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from the frontier township. At places people defied prohibitory orders and pelted stones injuring several persons,
As many as 50 persons including some policemen were injured when volunteers of the Ladakh Buddhist Association clashed with members of a particular community and the police during the bandh which was called by the LBA.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 25, 1989
