Srinagar: Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) on Tuesday sacked its President Tsewang Thinles who has been charged with sexual assault.
A case was filed against Thinles under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act after a teenaged girl alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by him.
At an emergency meeting of the LBA's central working committee in Leh town, the LBA removed him and replaced him with its Senior Vice President P.T. Kunzang.
"The news of the FIR lodged against Tsewang Thinles in an alleged criminal molestation has come as an extreme shock to the Buddhist community of Ladakh.
"The LBA dissociates itself from Tsewang Thinles henceforth and his membership of the general council of the LBA is also declared void," the LBA said in a statement.