MHA appoints Ladakh officer to assist Justice Chauhan in Leh violence probe

Srinagar : As the judicial probe into the September 24 Leh violence began yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs appointed Rigzin Spalgon, a Ladakh-origin officer and Additional Secretary in the UT administration, to assist Justice B.S. Chauhan, former Supreme Court judge, as Joint Secretary to the inquiry.
Justice Chauhan today invited the public to submit statements and evidence related to the incident.
“This amendment, issued by Prashant S. Lokhande, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, further strengthens the coordination and administrative support from the union Territory of Ladakh in facilitating the smooth conduct of the inquiry proceedings,” a statement by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh said.
The Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs New Delhi on October 17 had notified a Judicial Inquiry into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, the police action and the death of four individuals in the violence.
Meanwhile, in a public notice issued today, Judicial Secretary Mohan Singh Parihar (Retd. District & Sessions Judge) invited individuals possessing information related to the incident to submit statements to the commission.
“Whereas, the Inquiry Commission has commenced the proceedings on 27th October 2025. Now therefore, this public notice is issued by and under the order of the retired Justice Dr. B.S Chauhan, inviting all persons acquainted with the subject matter of the inquiry to furnish to the Inquiry Commission statements relating to matters as specified in the notification. Every statement furnished to the Inquiry Commission, should be accompanied by an affidavit in support of the facts set out in the statement and sworn by the person furnishing the statement,” the public notice read.
“Every person furnishing a statement shall also furnish to the Inquiry Commission along with the statement a list of the documents, if any, on which he/she proposes to rely and forward to the Inquiry Commission, wherever practicable, the originals or the true copies of such documents as may be in his/her possession or control and shall state the name and address of the person from whom the remaining documents may be obtained,” the notice read. The statements should reach the office of the Inquiry Commission, ADR Centre New Court Complex Melongthang, Leh within a period of four weeks on or before November 28.
Violence broke out in Leh district on September 24, when security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh, leaving four people dead and over 100 injured. Authorities subsequently imposed curfew-like restrictions, suspended mobile Internet services, and arrested more than 70 people, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was booked under the National Security Act (NSA).