The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into the 24 September police firing in Leh that killed four people, including a retired soldier of the Indian Army.
A notification from the MHA on Friday shared on X by Sajjad Kargili, one of the members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, spearheading the ongoing agitation for statehood and the Sixth Schedule for the union territory, says that Dr Justice BS Chauhan, former judge of the apex court, will inquire into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action, and the resultant unfortunate death of four individuals.
The MHA said that “the government has always been open for dialogue at any time. We would continue to welcome the discussion with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through the high-powered committee on Ladakh or any such 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 notification added.
Reacting to the government’s decision, Kargili wrote on X, “ We welcome the step, but justice remains incomplete without the release of the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and all detainees”. He also highlighted the demand for “compensation and medical aid for victims and statehood and the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh”.
The ABL and KDA have already rejected further talks with the MHA until Wangchuk is released from the Rajasthan jail and all others detained are also set free. They have also sought adequate compensation for those killed and injured. They had rejected the magisterial probe that was ordered by the Ladakh administration.