3 min readSrinagarUpdated: Sep 24, 2026 04:28 AM IST
A year after four civilians were killed in police firing after protests turned violent in Leh, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of criminal cases against 20 of the 87 people booked in the aftermath of that incident. This includes Jigmat Dorjay, Rinchen Dadul, Stanzin Namgail and Tsewang Thirchin, who have died in the past year, as per officials.
Withdrawal of criminal cases has remained one of the key demands of Ladakh’s representatives during ongoing talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This comes a month after the administration stated that it would be filing closure reports for 25 of the 87 people booked in the aftermath of the violence on September 24 last year. Of the 87 identified accused in the rioting cases, 81 were arrested, and criminal proceedings have begun against them.
Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra had earlier said that nine people had been chargesheeted, suggesting that “there is evidence of their involvement” in the incident. He had also stated that LG’s office had directed the Ladakh DGP to “review the cases of the rest of the people who are still part of the investigation”.
On Wednesday, the administration announced the withdrawal of more cases, with LG Saxena stating that the move is “in the larger interest of peace, public tranquillity, and social harmony in Ladakh”.
“Following a comprehensive review, the Ladakh police recommended a closure report for 20 individuals, in FIR no. 144/2005, registered at PS – Leh, under section 360 of the BNSS,” Saxena said in a communique from Lok Niwas.
This decision, he added, ensures that these 20 individuals move forward positively with their lives and careers. “By prioritising justice and healing over protracted litigation, the decision aims at fostering a more peaceful, united, and harmonious society in Ladakh. I extend my sincere gratitude to Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah ji for his constant guidance and sympathetic approach, in matters pertaining to the victims and their families.”
Story continues below this ad
This also comes days after the Centre proposed a constitutional provision of ‘Article 371(K)’ in a bid to extend additional protections to Ladakh during a meeting of the sub-committee with the MHA earlier this month. Quashing of the cases has been a key demand of the representatives who have been part of a dialogue with the Centre seeking greater democratic representation and constitutional protections for the region.
The development coincides with a symbolic 20-km march that Ladakh climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will lead to mark the anniversary of the civilian killings in Ladakh.
Four protesters were killed and 44 injured as police fired after a protest for statehood and the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh turned violent in Leh on September 24 last year. After the protests, Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike at the time of the incident, was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and lodged in Jodhpur jail for six months.
On September 13, the administration had sanctioned compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of each of the four deceased in the September 24 violence. An ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh for those with major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries had also been approved.
