Ahead of MHA-Ladakh talks in September, Centre’s outreach sees withdrawal of cases against Leh protestors

Ahead of MHA-Ladakh discussions in September, Centre's outreach sees withdrawal of cases against Leh protestors Ladakh's key civil society groups, including Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), earlier this week submitted a list of "non-negotiable" demands to the administration.

Key points

• Official sources remarked Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 20 to discuss the "developments in Ladakh".
• Four civilians were killed and around 90 individuals, including security personnel, were injured in 2025 as locals were agitating over the demands of Statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
• Members of LAB, KDA and former Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) leadership, lately held an informal gathering with the representatives of the MHA in Leh.
• He remarked 87 residents were booked in connection with last year's violence on September 24 in Leh.
• Cases against 25 individuals discovered to have had limited or no involvement would be withdrawn, with necessary closure proceedings undertaken in accordance with law.

Four civilians were killed and around 90 individuals, including security personnel, were injured in 2025 as locals were agitating over the demands of Statehood and the Sixth Schedule. File Photo Credit: Special arrangement.

As the authorities began reviewing the cases against alleged protestors for the September 24, 2025 violence, the Ladakh administration has began addressing the demands of the civil society groups of the region ahead of the Ministry of Home Affairs-level negotiations in New Delhi next month.

"Cases against 25 individuals discovered to have had limited or no involvement would be withdrawn, with necessary closure proceedings undertaken in accordance with law. Charge sheets have been filed against nine persons in cases where evidence was available, and that the matter would remain subject to proceedings before the competent courts, " remarked Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, in an official note issued on Thursday (August 20, 2026).

He remarked 87 residents were booked in connection with last year's violence on September 24 in Leh. "The administration has identified cases where there is no major evidence. The FIR withdrawal and closure process will be taken up in court, " remarked Mr. Kundra.

In practice, the LAB, which is observing September this year as 'Martyrs' Month', had threatened to revive agitation if the cases were not withdrawn against these locals. According to the LAB, "unarmed and innocent people were killed by opening fire from AK 47 without magisterial order in September last year".

For context, the civil society groups were additionally seeking compensation to those who died and left injured in the security forces' action.

For context, the withdrawal of cases is a major outreach to Ladakh by the Centre ahead of the formal round of discussions scheduled for September between the civil society groups and the MHA over legislature and Article 371-like special provisions for the region.

Mr. Kundar remarked the Administration was making efforts to schedule a formal gathering of the Ladakh Sub-Committee with the MHA in New Delhi by or before the second week of September "to discuss the demands and expectations placed before the Union Government and the broader framework being examined for Ladakh".

Taken together, the developments around ahead of MHA-Ladakh talks in September, Centre's outreach sees withdrawal of cases point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.