Ladakhi officer inducted into judicial probe on Leh violence

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has included a Ladakhi officer to assist in the judicial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh, which left four people dead and nearly 100 injured.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, said that the MHA had issued an official communication amending the composition of the judicial inquiry committee constituted earlier this month.

“As per the latest order dated October 28, 2025, Rigzin Spalgon, Additional Secretary (Administration), Union Territory of Ladakh, has been included to assist Justice BS Chauhan, former Judge of the Supreme Court, as joint secretary for conducting the judicial inquiry,” the LAHDC Leh said.

The amendment, issued by Prashant S Lokhande, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, aims to “further strengthen coordination and administrative support from the Union Territory of Ladakh for the smooth conduct of the inquiry proceedings.”

On October 17, the Centre had addressed a key demand of protesting Ladakh groups by announcing a judicial inquiry headed by Justice BS Chauhan into the Leh violence, which claimed four lives — including that of a Kargil war veteran. Protesters had been demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory and had sought the inclusion of a local officer in the probe panel.

On Tuesday, Justice Chauhan issued a public notice inviting all individuals acquainted with the “subject matter of the inquiry” to submit statements to the Inquiry Commission regarding issues specified in the official notification.

The statements are to be submitted to the Office of the Inquiry Commission, ADR Centre, New Court Complex, Melongthang, Leh, within four weeks, on or before November 28, 2025, the notice said.