Ladakh LG announces Rs 15 lakh compensation for families of four killed in Leh protest

A year after the violent clashes in Leh, lieutenant governor VK Saxena announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh for each of the four families who lost members in the police firing on September 24, and further compensation of Rs 3 lakh for major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for minor wounds among roughly 90 protesters. Saxena expressed gratitude to Union home minister Amit Shah for his “sensitive, humanitarian and guiding approach,” noting the minister’s longstanding solidarity with the victims.

The unrest stemmed from demands for full statehood and constitutional safeguards under Schedule Six for the Union Territory. Ladakh Apex Body co-chair Chering Dorjay Lakrook had repeatedly sought compensation in meetings with the home ministry, which earlier pledged to withdraw cases against arrested protesters. Following the incident, authorities imposed curfew-like measures, cut mobile internet, and detained more than 80 individuals, registering FIRs against 87 people, among them activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was held under the National Security Act in Jodhpur jail until March.