Leh Violence Inquiry Panel Granted 10 More Days for Recording Statements

Leh/Jammu, Nov 28: The Judicial Inquiry Commission probing the September 24 Leh violence has extended the deadline for recording statements and submitting evidence by 10 days, following a written request from the Leh Apex Body (LAB).

The three member Commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B. S. Chauhan was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 17. Its mandate includes examining the circumstances that led to the serious law and order breakdown in Leh, reviewing the police response, and assessing the events that resulted in four civilian deaths, including that of a 1999 Kargil war veteran.

The violence erupted during protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The clashes between demonstrators and security forces left four people dead and around 90 injured, intensifying the region’s months long agitation.

According to an order issued on Friday, the Commission received a formal request on November 27 from the LAB co-chairman seeking more time, stating that “many people still want to give their statements and submit evidence before the Commission.”

Judicial Secretary Mohan Singh Parihar, a retired district and sessions judge, noted in the order that the original deadline was set to expire on November 28. The plea was placed before Justice Chauhan, who considered the matter virtually and approved an extension until December 8 to enable more individuals connected to the incident to depose.

The LAB, an umbrella body of social, political and religious organisations in Ladakh, has been leading the ongoing movement for constitutional safeguards, demanding separate statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.