Martyrs’ anniversary observed in Leh

*Leaders demand justice, dignified compensation

Tsewang Rigzin

LEH, Sept 24: The first anniversary of September 24, 2025 incident, in which four Ladakhis lost their lives in police firing during the agitation for Sixth Schedule safeguards and statehood for Ladakh, was observed in Leh today. One more person died by suicide following the incident. All those who lost their lives were remembered and paid tribute to during the anniversary programme. While market in Leh remained complete shut for the whole day.

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The programme, organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), was attended by leaders of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who travelled from Kargil to Leh to participate in the observation. The public gathering was addressed by leaders of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

Speaking on the occasion, former MP Thupstan Chhewang condemned the compensation announced for the families of the martyrs, calling it too little. He demanded that compensation be provided at par with the compensation announced for the victims of the NEET paper leak following the CJP protest in New Delhi.

Chhewang said he was not aware of the compensation amount announced earlier and that, when he heard about it, he felt it was too little to be called compensation.

Ladakhi leaders also expressed concern over the delay in bringing the report of the judicial inquiry committee constituted to inquire into the September 24, 2025 incident. They demanded that the findings of the inquiry be made public.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, while addressing the gathering, held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the incident of September 24 last year and demanded his resignation. He alleged that the Home Minister should take responsibility for what he described as a massacre in Ladakh.

Apex Body Chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said the UT administration appeared to be scared of its own citizens, which, he said, was not acceptable. He said all tactics are used to keep the people distracted from the demands. He added that only in communist countries under dictatorship were leaders scared of their own people and that this should not happen in a democratic country like India.

KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai, Sajad Kargili and Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan also termed the compensation announced for the martyrs' families as too little. They expressed solidarity with the families of the martyrs and demanded justice for those who lost their lives in the September 24 incident.

Christian Association President Dechen Chamga, Anjuman Imamia Vice President Sheikh Nazir and Anjuman Moin Ul-Islam President Muhammad Shafi Lasu also addressed the gathering. They expressed solidarity with the families of the martyrs and all those affected by the incident, and called for the withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the incident.

The family members of the martyrs were honoured on the occasion. People of Ladakh also expressed gratitude to the families of those who lost their lives in the September 24 incident, as well as to the families of those killed during the 1981 ST agitation and the 1989 agitation in Ladakh for the demand for Union Territory status.