More than three weeks after the police firing in Leh on September 24, 2025, killing four (including Indian Army veteran Havildar Tsewang Tharchin of 3 Ladakh Scouts) and injuring 70-80 , India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a judicial inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge on October 17.

Earlier on October 2, the Ladakh administration ordered a magisterial inquiry. But with the Lt Governor, Chief Secretary and DG Police (all from Jammu) total blame will likely be attributed to protestors despite the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) accusing indiscriminate firing instead of using tear gas, water cannons or rubber bullets.

Given the central government's nonchalant attitude towards Ladakhis, the outcome of the judicial inquiry announced by the MHA is unlikely to be different or at best be limited to police transfers. Is it any surprise that India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is likely to be downgraded next month by the Global Association of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

On October 18, Ladakh administration blocked a “silent march” called by LAB and KDA to express solidarity with those killed in protests on September 24 by reimposing prohibitor orders.

With a key demand for judicial probe into the police firing having been met, Ladakhi  leaders, including of the LAB and KDA, led by Lok Sabha MP from Ladakh Mohammed Haneefa Jan, met MHA officials on October 22, reiterating demands for statehood and protection under Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. They also demanded release of detained protestors, including Sonam Wangchuk arrested under the National Security Act.  

The attendees later told the media that the MHA showed no inclination to release the political leaders and expressed no regret for the police firing on September 24. The next meeting with MHA is to be held after 10 days, but this is likely to be another hogwash, looking at the talks in Manipur over the last two years failing to find a concrete solution.  

The Leh Bar Association has demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for families of the four killed. The administration has announced no compensation for the injured either.   The KDA  organized a peaceful march in Kargil demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the region (https://www.facebook.com/reel/609115238861602). The march began at Changrah Bazar, proceeded through the main market, and culminated at Lal Chowk Kargil. Similar silent marches were also held at all sub-division and block headquarters across Ladakh.    

Ladakhis perhaps are unaware that BJP leader Arun Jaitley had once said promises made during elections are just promises – not necessarily implemented. But for Ladakhis, promises made by the BJP are linked to their livelihood, administrative and political participation, as well as preserving the fragile environment of Ladakh.

Politico-Corporate Nexus

For India’s political hierarchy, tribals are more about wearing their attire/headdress, playing drums with them and posing for photo ops – tribal rights be damned. If US President Donald Trump bends all rules for rare earth elements, India’s hierarchy will sacrifice anything for mining minerals. The politico-corporate nexus rules supreme – not only for making money, but controlling the media.

In Ladakh, it is not just 150 sq km of pasture land allotted to corporates for solar power projects, but also the mining on land of corporate choosing. Why bother about the ecology, environment and disasters? 

There have been scores of cases where judgements have ignored tribal rights completely. A recent example is the Chhattisgarh High Court upholding  cancellation of community forest rights for villagers, in favour of a project involving a corporate (https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/chhattisgarh-hc-upholds-cancellation-of-forest-rights-of-ghatbarra-villagers-in-hasdeo/article70171979.ece). 

The political cover always is “development”, which is how the fragile environment of the Himalayas continues to be raped. Though not mentioning the 2004 tsunami damage in Nicobar, a naval veteran-scholar writes  that the proposed  Nicobar transshipment facility would lack viable logistical eco system vis-a-vis Singapore/Sri Lanka ports, as well as  risk ecological collapse (https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-mirage-of-port-led-development-in-great-nicobar/article70197906.ece)

But business is business and Sonam Wangchuk can remain in jail till the corporations derive the last ounce of flesh from Ladakh (https://southasiamonitor.org/spotlight/mishandling-ladakh-wangchuk-being-scapegoated).

Does Ladakh Matter?

Ladakh’s anguish can be sensed from a post from Kargil on X:  “One month has passed since prominent climate activist and member of the Leh Apex Body, Sonam Wangchuk was jailed under the draconian NSA on baseless charges. Such actions only deepen mistrust and hurt the democratic spirit of Ladakh. We reiterate our demand for his immediate release and restoration of democratic rights.” (https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1282161013924200&id=100063909401928&post_id=100063909401928_1282161013924200&rdid=OB9MKS7x6nFmLBj4#).

Finally, the question remains how long will the Ladakhis remain nonentities in the political calculus of the Modi government?

(The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal)