Ladakh to Withdraw Cases Against 25 Persons Booked for Violence During Statehood Protests The Ladakh administration announced on Thursday that it would withdraw cases registered against 25 individuals accused of participating in violent incidents during protests in Leh on September 24. The decision followed discussions with Union Home Ministry officials and was reported by The Indian Express. The protests, which demanded statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, turned violent, resulting in four deaths and 50 injuries after clashes with security personnel. Protesters reportedly threw stones at security forces, leading to the casualties. The violence prompted the Union government to take action, with activist Sonam Wangchuk being arrested under the National Security Act. Authorities alleged that Wangchuk was the “chief provocateur” of the September 24 violence and claimed that the protests in Leh were brought under control after his detention. His arrest was revoked on March 14, marking a significant shift in the government’s stance. Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra stated that 87 individuals were booked for the violence, with chargesheets filed against nine of them. The administration’s decision to withdraw cases against 25 persons came after consultations with the lieutenant-governor. This move was part of broader efforts to address the demands of pro-statehood groups, which have been advocating for greater autonomy and political representation. Representatives of the Kargil Democratic Alliance and Leh Apex Body, key organizations leading the statehood movement, met officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Leh on Wednesday. During the meeting, they submitted a list of non-negotiable demands to the Union government.#sonam_wangchuk #leh_apex_body #kargil_democratic_alliance #ladakh_administration #ashish_kundra
