On eve of another Ladakh protest, MHA orders probe by retd SC judge into Leh violence

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BS Chauhan into the September 24 violence in Leh that left four persons dead and nearly 100 injured, the announcement coming on the eve of a “silent peace march” planned in Ladakh against the action by security personnel on protesters.

The MHA order said Justice Chauhan will be assisted by retired District and Sessions Judge Mohan Singh Parihar as judicial secretary and IAS officer Tushar Anand as administrative secretary. The development is expected to break the deadlock between the Centre and the two main groups representing the protesters — Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — as a judicial probe was one of their main demands for resuming talks.

“In order to ensure an impartial inquiry, the Ministry of Home Affairs today notified a judicial inquiry to be conducted by former Supreme Court judge BS Chauhan into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, police action and the resultant death of the four individuals,” a government statement said.

The Tribune had reported on October 6 that the Ladakh leaders had been assured of a judicial probe by the Centre through back-channel communication.

The government also said it was “always open to dialogue and will continue to welcome discussions with the LAB and the KDA through its high-powered committee on Ladakh or any other suitable platform”. “We are confident that continuous dialogue will yield the desired results in the near future. The government stands committed to the aspirations of the people of Ladakh,” the statement said.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta told The Tribune that the main demand of the protesters had been met, and that the “inquiry would bring out facts before the people”. “Now, I am hopeful that talks will resume. We have always been open to dialogue with the people of Ladakh,” he said.

The violence erupted during protests triggered by a hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been fasting for 35 days demanding statehood and the Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. On September 26, the police detained Wangchuk under the National Security Act for allegedly inciting the violence and shifted him to Jodhpur jail.

On Thursday, Ladakh leaders announced the silent peace march on Saturday and a blackout from 6 pm to 9 pm across the UT to honour those killed and injured during the protests. The delay in the judicial probe had been cited as one of the reasons for the march.

LAB co-chairman Cherring Dorjay Lakruk welcomed the MHA’s order, but said Saturday’s protest would go ahead as planned. “It’s too late to call it off. We will resume talks whenever the government invites us,” he said.

Ahead of Saturday’s march, the Leh administration reimposed restrictions in Leh tehsil under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), three days after these were lifted.

An order issued by Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk said that as per police reports, “there was an apprehension of disturbance to public peace and tranquility, danger to human life and a possibility of law and order problem in Leh tehsil’s jurisdiction”. “No procession, rally or march, etc, shall be carried out without the prior written approval of the competent authority,” the order stated.