Leh: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has outrightly rejected the magisterial inquiry ordered by the Union Territory administration of Ladakh into the September 24 law and order situation that claimed four lives during police action. The influential body reiterated its demand for a high-level judicial inquiry, insisting that only such a probe can establish accountability for the deaths of civilians in Leh.
Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey categorically dismissed the inquiry led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nubra. “We have maintained from day one that there should be a judicial inquiry into the killings of Ladakhi people. We want to know who ordered the firing on civilians without any warning. We don’t accept the magisterial inquiry and we reject it,” Dorjey said.
The LAB leader further added that no dialogue with the central government will be possible unless its core demands are met. “Talks with the Centre are not possible till a judicial inquiry is ordered and all the detainees, including Sonam Wangchuk, are released. The government must come clean and be answerable to the people of Ladakh,” he stated.
The administration of Ladakh had earlier appointed SDM Nubra Mukul Beniwal (IAS) as inquiry officer to ascertain the facts of the September 24 incident, when police opened fire during protests in Leh demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh. Four civilians, identified as Jigmet Dorjey of Kharnak, Rinchen Dadul of Hanu, Stanzin Namgail of Igoo, and Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbuchan, lost their lives in the firing. The inquiry officer has been tasked to submit a report within four weeks, inviting public testimony and evidence between October 4 and 18. [KNT]
