Magisterial Probe into Leh Violence to Finish Within Four Weeks

A magisterial inquiry into the violent clashes on September 24 in Leh, which resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries, is slated for completion within four weeks, according to local officials. The probe, initiated by Leh Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa, has appointed Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nubra, Mukul Beniwal, as the lead investigator. This development comes as the region grapples with the aftermath of a shutdown organised by the Apex Body Leh (ABL), a coalition advocating for Ladakh's statehood and constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule.

The unrest erupted when security forces resorted to firing during the protest, escalating a demonstration into a tragic confrontation. The incident highlighted deep-seated grievances in Ladakh, a Union Territory carved out of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, where locals demand greater autonomy to preserve their unique tribal heritage and environment from external influences. The ABL, representing Leh's Buddhist-majority population, has been in protracted negotiations with the central government since then, pushing for safeguards similar to those in Northeast India's tribal areas to prevent land alienation and cultural erosion.

Beniwal's public notice outlines the inquiry's mandate: to meticulously reconstruct the events leading to the law-and-order breakdown, evaluate police actions, and determine the circumstances surrounding the fatalities. The deceased—Jigmet Dorjey from Kharnak, Rinchen Dadul from Hanu, Stanzin Namgail from Igoo, and Tsewang Tharchin from Skurbuchan—were local residents caught in the fray, their deaths fuelling widespread mourning and demands for accountability. Scores more sustained injuries, straining medical facilities in the high-altitude town.

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To ensure transparency, Beniwal has invited the public to share information at the Deputy Commissioner's office conference hall in Leh from October 4 to 18 during working hours. "All concerned are therefore requested to extend their cooperation to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry," the SDM stated. Community leaders have welcomed the timeline but stressed the need for swift justice, viewing the probe as a critical step toward addressing Ladakh's broader aspirations for self-governance amid ongoing tripartite talks involving the ABL, Kargil Democratic Alliance, and New Delhi.

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