Centre orders judicial probe into Leh violence that killed four

The Union government on Friday announced a judicial inquiry into the deaths of four persons in police firing during protests in Leh on September 24.

The investigation will be headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice BS Chauhan, according to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The police firing and violence broke out on September 24, during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Demonstrators clashed with and threw stones at the police, and set fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party office and a police vehicle.

Two days later, Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act in Leh and later taken to the jail in Jodhpur.

The Union government has claimed that the violence was incited by Wangchuk’s “provocative statements”.

On October 5, Wangchuk, through his lawyer, said that he was prepared to remain in jail until a judicial probe was ordered into the violence.

After nearly three weeks of heightened security and restrictions, the Ladakh administration lifted the ban on gatherings of more than four persons on Wednesday, The Hindu reported.

The Union home ministry’s statement on Friday emphasised that the “government has always been open to discussions at any point in time”.

“We would continue to welcome the discussion with Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High Powered Committee...

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