Not getting ‘good response', says judicial panel probing Ladakh violence; urges people to share info

SRINAGAR: A judicial commission set up by Union home ministry to probe the September 24 violence in Leh Thursday said it was not getting a “good response” from the public, and appealed to the people to come forward and depose before it.Addressing a press conference in Leh, IAS officer Tushar Anand, administrative secretary of the inquiry commission, said, “The greater the number of people submitting evidence, the more impartial the investigation will be and that will help ensure justice.”Ananad, who was accompanied by Rigzin Spalgon, joint secretary for the panel, said it would not be possible to conduct a fair inquiry if people did not come forward.

“We won’t get information on our own. People must step up and share whatever they know so that we can examine the evidence and make a proper decision,” he said.He said officials and ground-level staff posted at the site during the incident were being identified and once their list was prepared, they would have to depose before the commission. “But, many people may have seen what happened. If they come forward, it will help the inquiry,” he added.

The ministry of home affairs announced the commission on Oct 17 after Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the two major political organisations in the Union Territory of Ladakh, demanded a judicial probe headed by a retired Supreme Court judge as a precondition for resuming dialogue with the Centre.The inquiry commission, chaired by retired SC judge Justice B S Chauhan, began its work on Oct 27 and a day later, issued a public notice inviting people to share information related to the Sept 24 incident.

The evidence can be submitted till Nov 28, after which the commission will start its hearing.When asked about reports that some people were allegedly forced by security forces to delete their videos and were now afraid to share evidence, the official said: “Even if the videos have been deleted, people can still submit written statements explaining that they were forced to delete them.” “Anyone having information, whether in video, written, or oral form, can submit it through an affidavit,” he added.On Sept 24, police and paramilitary forces allegedly opened fire on protesters demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, after demonstrations turned violent, killing four people and injuring more than 90. Subsequently, more than 70 people, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, were arrested.After the announcement of the judicial probe, the Centre held talks with representatives of LAB and KDA on Oct 22 in New Delhi. The two organisations had pulled out from the scheduled talks after the violence.