Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 1: Even as agitating groups in Ladakh continue to demand a judicial probe into the September 24 violence in Leh that claimed four lives, the Union Territory administration has already ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
The violence, described as “unprecedented” by local leaders, has triggered widespread concern across Leh and Kargil, with both the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) pressing for an impartial judicial investigation to ascertain responsibility and restore public confidence.
Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson, echoed the stand of the two influential bodies but underlined that the administration has already moved ahead with its own probe mechanism.
“I spoke to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, and he informed me that a magisterial inquiry had already been announced on September 26, two days after the incident,” Gyalson told reporters.
The CEC added that while the demand for a judicial inquiry was valid and reflected the sentiments of the people, it was equally important to allow the official inquiry to proceed without obstruction. He appealed “I spoke to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, and he informed me that a magisterial inquiry had already been announced on September 26, two days after the incident,” says Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC.
The September 24 violence in Leh has shaken the region, which has generally remained peaceful in recent years despite ongoing agitations over constitutional safeguards, job security, and political representation for Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The deaths of four local residents have intensified resentment against the administration, with opposition parties and civil society groups demanding accountability at the highest level. Protests in both Leh and Kargil have highlighted concerns over the handling of the situation by security forces and the local administration.
Meanwhile, officials in the UT administration maintain that the magisterial inquiry will be thorough, transparent, and time-bound, covering all aspects of the incident, including the sequence of events that led to the clashes. The findings, they assured, will be made public.
With political pressure mounting and public anger simmering, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the magisterial probe satisfies the demands of Ladakh’s powerful local bodies or whether the agitation for a judicial-level investigation gains further momentum. |
