Leh Apex Body announces Martyrs’ Month, demands justice for Sept 24 victims

‘No date yet confirmed for talks with MHA’

Tsewang Rigzin

Leh, Aug 17: The Leh Apex Body, under the leadership of Chering Dorjay Lakrook, today held a meeting and took several significant decisions concerning its ongoing movement to safeguard Ladakh's rights and demands.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the Apex Body announced that 24th August to 24th September will be observed as Martyrs' Month across Ladakh, dedicated to those who lost their lives while fighting for Ladakh's rights and demands.

The announcement comes ahead of the first anniversary of the 24th September 2025 incident, in which four Ladakhis were killed in firing and around 80 people were injured.

The Apex Body demanded the withdrawal of all cases registered in connection with the September 24 incident and sought compensation for the families of the martyrs and those injured in the incident.

Lakrook said the entire month would be observed to remind the people of Ladakh of the sacrifices made by the martyrs for the future of Ladakh.

He also informed that the Apex Body had received communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the holding of talks with the leaders of Ladakh. However, he said that no date had yet been confirmed for the proposed talks.

The Apex Body also expressed concern over the delay in the Judicial Inquiry Committee report into the September 24 incident. Apex Body member Mohd Shafi Lasub said that if the report was further delayed, the Apex Body would consider challenging the delay before the Supreme Court of India, stating that the inquiry process should not be unnecessarily prolonged.

Meanwhile, climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk, who was present at the press conference, informed that the Apex Body had unanimously passed a resolution confirming Chering Dorjay Lakrook as its Chairman.

Chering Dorjay Lakrook had earlier been serving as Co-Chairman. Wangchuk said the leadership change followed developments within the Apex Body over the past few months.

He said Chering Dorjay Lakrook had continued to function as Co-Chairman since the resignation and was formally elected Chairman at today's meeting. Wangchuk added that a core committee would discuss and decide on the appointment of a new Co-Chairman.

Referring to the decisions taken during the meeting, Wangchuk said the UT Administration should not take decisions that ought to be taken by elected representatives of Ladakh.

He said that in the absence of an elected legislature, the administration should refrain from taking major decisions concerning issues such as transfer of land and granting or extending Hill Councils to the newly created districts, as such decisions should be taken by a legislature duly elected by the people of Ladakh.

Wangchuk further alleged that there have been instances where decisions taken by the UT Administration were against the interests and aspirations of the people of Ladakh.

He cautioned that if such decisions continued to be taken against the interests of the people and the aspirations of Ladakh, the Apex Body could be compelled to launch a campaign seeking the resignation of the Lieutenant Governor.