Ladakh to withdraw cases against 25 booked after September violence

The Ladakh administration has announced it will withdraw cases against 25 individuals booked in connection with the violence that erupted in Leh on September 24 last year. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said closure reports will be filed in court for these cases.

Kundra said that of the 87 people booked, nine have been chargesheeted with evidence of involvement. The decision to withdraw cases against 25 came after discussions with the Lieutenant-Governor, following a meeting on Wednesday between representatives of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials.

The KDA and LAB had submitted a list of non-negotiable demands, including financial powers for a proposed elected Ladakh Legislative Assembly, a separate Public Service Commission, and unconditional withdrawal of all cases related to the violence. The meeting was attended by Ladakh MP Mohammad Hanifa Jan, KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay, and Chief Secretary Kundra.

Four people were killed and at least 50 injured in the violence, which occurred when a protest demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections turned violent and police opened fire. Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike, was later booked under the National Security Act and jailed for six months.

Kundra termed the incident a "blot on pages of India's history" and said the DGP has been directed to review cases of others still under investigation. He also said a UT-level legislative body is being envisaged under Article 371 provisions, with a formal sub-committee meeting expected in early September. The MHA and Law Ministry are working on a framework for its election, powers, and executive structure.

Meanwhile, Ladakh L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss development initiatives and welfare schemes in the UT.