MHA orders judicial probe into Sept 24 Leh violence, stakeholders welcome move

According to a MHA notification, the inquiry will be conducted by former judge of the Supreme Court Justice B S Chauhan into the “circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action and the resultant unfortunate death of the four individuals”.

The notification said Justice Chauhan would be assisted by retired district judge Mohan Singh Parihar as Judicial Secretary, and IAS officer Tushar Anand as Administrative Secretary.

Following the September 24 violence, the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had withdrawn from talks that were scheduled with the Centre on October 6, saying the government had failed to address their demands, including a judicial probe.

The violence, which erupted during protests over Ladakh’s demands for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and job and land safeguards, had deepened mistrust between the Centre and local bodies that had been negotiating for months.

Speaking to The Indian Express after Thursday’s notification, Apex Body Leh co-chair Chhering Dorjey Lakruk said, “We welcome this decision by the government. This was our key demand. We are open to resume talks now and hope Delhi will schedule talks soon.”

The order marks the Centre’s most significant outreach since the September 24 unrest. Notably, soon after the ABL’s announcement of withdrawing from talks, the Centre had said it was open to talks with the ABL and KDA through the High Powered Committee on Ladakh or any such platform “at any time” and hoped for a desired result “in the near future”.

KDA representative Sajjad Kargili said, “We welcome the step, but justice remains incomplete without the release of all detainees, including Sonam Wangchuk, compensation and medical aid for victims, as well as statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards for Ladakh.”

Ladakh MP Haji Haifa Jan said while the decision was important and addresses a key demand in the aftermath of the violence in Leh, “it is imperative that young men from poor families who are still in jails, as well as those who are called for questioning every day, are not harassed further”. He said that Ladakhis are keen to carry forward their engagement with the Centre “but the onus is on the government to address our issues first”.

The September 24 police firing deaths and later the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, had caused considerable anger in Ladakh and adversely impacted the trust between civil society groups there and the Centre.

Sonam Wangchuk’s lawyer Haji Mustafa too welcomed the move, but suggested presence of a person from Ladakh in the enquiry committee.

“It is a good step forward. However, there should an independent Ladakhi also in the committee, so that there is fairness and transparency . And moreover, the inquiry should be conducted with a top-to-bottom approach and not the other way around. There should be accountability at the decision-making level,” he said.