Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk called on Thursday for the release of the judicial inquiry findings into last year’s violent events in Leh, stating, “Justice must prevail for Ladakh.” Wangchuk spoke at a rally commemorating the first anniversary of the agitation that took place on September 24, 2025. A total shutdown was observed across Leh for “Shaheed Diwas” to honor the four individuals who lost their lives during the unrest.
“The truth has been kept hidden for far too long. People believe there were attempts to provoke riots between Buddhists and Muslims prior to this incident, and this has been ongoing. In this context, three Muslims were appointed as magistrates to justify a firing order, aiming to place blame on the Buddhists—making it seem as though they were responsible for the deaths. However, those magistrates demonstrated integrity and refused to comply. There was no justification for such use of force—shooting individuals and inflicting harm without reason. All these details will emerge once the inquiry commission presents its report. It must be made public,” he emphasized.
Wangchuk warned that if the report remains unpublished, the community would seek alternative ways to investigate the events. “If you do not release the inquiry commission report, we will advocate for the establishment of a ‘People’s Tribunal.’ We will reach out to those within our nation’s justice system who hold onto their conscience—judges, retired judges, and related institutions—to form a People’s Tribunal, engage with the community, and offer judgments if this continued suppression persists… We still hold out hope that the government will grant justice to these martyrs and to Ladakh, a region that has defended the nation’s borders with unwavering patriotism. Justice must be served for the martyrs. Justice must be served for Ladakh,” he insisted.
Commercial establishments and markets remained closed throughout Leh, and public transportation was largely absent as residents participated in the shutdown.
The protests on September 24, 2025, were organized to demand statehood and constitutional protections for Ladakh, including its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. The protests turned violent, resulting in four fatalities and numerous injuries. In response, the administration established a judicial inquiry commission led by former Supreme Court Justice B S Chauhan to investigate the events leading to the violence, the police response, and the resulting deaths.
On the eve of the anniversary, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena announced the withdrawal of criminal cases against 20 individuals involved in the violence from last year. Meanwhile, discussions between central and Ladakh representatives regarding constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory are ongoing.
