लेह गोळीबार प्रकरणाच्या पहिल्या वर्धापनदिनी सोनम वांगचूक यांची...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 25 September 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

Prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, alongside regional civil society bodies including the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), observed a memorial gathering on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the September 24, 2025, security force firing in Leh that resulted in four fatalities and left over 80 individuals injured. Addressing the assembly, Wangchuk demanded the immediate resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding the Ministry of Home Affairs accountable for the administrative and law-enforcement response to last year's statehood demonstrations.

The public commemoration was held under heavy security deployment across Leh and surrounding districts. During his address, Wangchuk voiced apprehensions regarding personal safety while reiterating demands for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule for the Union Territory.

Retrospective on the September 2025 Firing and Compensation Controversy

The agitation stems from events on September 24, 2025, when peaceful demonstrations demanding statehood, constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule, and parliamentary representation turned violent following clashes between security personnel and youth protesters near administrative premises. During the confrontation, law enforcement forces opened fire using automatic weaponry, including service rifles, resulting in four deaths and severe injuries to over 80 people, alongside dozens of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against local youths.

Local activists and legal representatives have raised procedural objections, alleging that security forces acted without formal firing orders from present magistrates. Following the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a judicial inquiry commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deployment of lethal force. However, civil society leaders criticized the administration for withholding the judicial commission's findings a year after its inception and termed the official ex-gratia compensation—₹15 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹3 lakh to the severely injured—as inadequate.

Political Convergence and Opposition Demands

Wangchuk explicitly aligned his call for executive accountability with political statements made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi had previously demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation following allegations of force deployment, including pellet guns, against student demonstrators during protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

While endorsing Gandhi's call regarding central police actions in the capital, Wangchuk questioned why national political platforms have given lesser visibility to the lethal force utilized against youth in Ladakh. Activists reiterated that the youth of Ladakh have consistently served national defense interests during past border conflicts, asserting that the central government must demonstrate democratic accountability toward the region's territorial and cultural grievances.

Official Stand and Police Response

In response to the allegations raised during the anniversary gathering, the Ladakh Police and administration issued statements defending law enforcement actions as essential measures to restore public order during severe violent rioting in September 2025. Officials refuted claims of administrative suppression, stating that security deployments on Thursday were strictly aimed at maintaining public order and ensuring peaceful gatherings without disrupting public movement.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has maintained that judicial inquiries follow statutory processes and that official reports will be reviewed in accordance with legal guidelines upon completion. Authorities further emphasized that ongoing bilateral talks with regional representatives remain open to resolve long-standing socio-economic and political demands within constitutional frameworks.