Leh, Oct 26: The aggrieved residents of Ladakh, including the families of four victims who lost their lives, have levelled serious allegations against the Lieutenant Governor’s administration as the judicial commission, led by former Supreme Court judge Dr Justice B.S. Chauhan, arrived in Leh to begin its inquiry into the September 24 violence that left four people dead and several injured.
Terming the protest a democratic right, the victims’ families, injured and other locals who appeared before the Commission presented evidence, including video footages and photographs, which they said disproved the LG administration’s claims that “extreme steps” were necessary to control the agitators or prevent large-scale destruction.
Sources close to the victims’ families revealed that the commission was informed about medical records showing that 87 people were injured in the clashes, of whom 16 were critically wounded and eight sustained major injuries. In contrast, the CRPF and police personnel reportedly received only minor injuries, which, according to locals, clearly indicates a “disproportionate and unprovoked action” by the UT administration.
The families, appearing before the commission at the Alternate Dispute Redressal Centre, Melongthan, Leh accused the LG administration of mishandling the situation and ordering excessive force when non-lethal measures could have been used.
“This was an administrative failure that escalated an avoidable situation into violence,” sources said, adding that orders to open fire were given “without provocation.”
The families alleged gross mismanagement by the LG Administration, claiming the tragedy was a direct consequence of its “ill-planned and disproportionate response” to what was initially a peaceful protest demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and other safeguards.
Constituted by the Union Home Ministry, the three-member judicial panel — also comprising retired district and sessions judge Mohan Singh Parihar and IAS officer Tushar Anand — is probing both the sequence of events leading to the clashes and the alleged misuse of force by the administration.
Sources informed that testimonies before the panel indicated that the situation spiralled out of control when security forces, accompanied by Ladakh Police, stormed the protest site in a disorganised manner after protesters allegedly vandalised buildings and damaged public property, including a BJP office and a police vehicle.
“Instead of restraint, there was retaliation — and the people paid the price,” said one eyewitness.
Sources further revealed that the victims’ families also submitted photographs and video evidence purportedly showing security personnel violating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for crowd control and using lethal measures against protesters.
Residents of Ladakh have demanded that the Commission conduct an impartial probe to ensure justice is delivered to the the victims.
Officials confirmed that the Judicial Commission will remain in Leh until Tuesday to record statements from victims’ families, eyewitnesses, and government officials. The panel will also visit violence-hit areas and meet members of the Apex Body, Leh, as well as local residents to collect independent testimonies.
The findings of the inquiry are expected to determine accountability within the LG administration and could set a precedent for handling civilian protests in the strategically sensitive Union Territory of Ladakh.
