Ladakh Announces Rs 1.52 Crore Compensation for Leh Firing Victims

The Ladakh administration has sanctioned Rs 1.52 crore in compensation for the families of four persons killed and those injured in the police firing in Leh on September 24 last year, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the Union Territory's two representative bodies.

Under the package, Rs 15 lakh each has been announced for the families of the four deceased. Rs 3 lakh each has been approved for 24 persons who suffered major injuries, while 20 people with minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh each. Officials said Rs 60 lakh has been earmarked for the families of the deceased, Rs 72 lakh for the majorly injured, and Rs 20 lakh for those with minor injuries.

Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said no compensation could replace a life lost or erase the pain endured, but the administration stood firmly beside every affected family. The compensation is intended as a measure of support and solidarity with the affected families and individuals, an official release said. The Lt Governor expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his guidance and for standing in solidarity with the victims and their families.

Four protesters were killed and 44 injured when police opened fire after a protest demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh turned violent in Leh on September 24 last year. The unrest followed a shutdown called by student and youth organisations after two elderly persons fainted during a hunger strike announced by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

The deaths intensified confrontation between the Centre and the two representative bodies of Ladakh — the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance — with compensation for the victims among their major demands. As a confidence-building measure, the Centre had shifted the then Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta and police chief S D Singh Jamwal from Leh. Gupta was replaced by Saxena in March this year.