Ladakh to withdraw cases against 25 persons booked for violence during statehood protests

The Ladakh administration on Thursday said that it will withdraw cases registered against 25 persons for their alleged involvement in violence during protests in Leh on September 24, The Indian Express reported.

Four persons were killed in police firing and 50 were injured after protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent. The protesters clashed with security personnel and threw stones at them.

Two days later, Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act. The Union government had alleged that the activist was the “chief provocateur” of the September 24 violence and that the protests in Leh came under control after he was taken into custody.

On March 14, his detention was revoked.

On Thursday, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said that 87 persons were booked for the violence, reported The Indian Express. Chargesheets were filed against nine of them, he added.

He said that the administration decided to withdraw cases against 25 persons following discussions with the lieutenant-governor.

This came a day after representatives of the Kargil Democratic Alliance and Leh Apex Body, which are leading the agitation for Ladakh’s statehood, met officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Leh on Wednesday.

They submitted a list of non-negotiable demands to the Union government, including financial powers for the...

Read more