Sonam Wangchuk pushes for inquiry report and case drops after Ladakh firing

Four people died when police opened fire on protesters on September 24, 2025 in Ladakh, and a year later climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is demanding the judicial inquiry report, higher compensation and the withdrawal of cases against those not involved. Wangchuk said the families of the dead are still waiting for answers and criticised the delay in releasing the report headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B. S. Chauhan. He asked who ordered the firing, whether crowd‑control steps were exhausted before live rounds were used and if the deaths could have been avoided. The statement also noted one person died by suicide and scores were injured during the clash. Eighty‑seven people were identified as accused, eighty‑one were arrested and criminal proceedings were started; the administration has approved dropping cases against twenty of them, leaving the fate of the rest unclear. The Ladakh administration announced Rs 15 lakh compensation for each next of kin, which Wangchuk called inadequate and urged a "respectable and dignified" amount plus compensation for serious injuries. He highlighted his own detention under the National Security Act on September 26, 2025, his transfer to Jodhpur Central Jail for nearly six months and the revocation of the order on March 14, 2026, questioning why he was released if he was a danger to security. Wangchuk called for reforms in the criminal justice system, including better handling of under‑trials, accountability in investigations, compensation for wrongful detention and safeguards against misuse of extraordinary laws. He said democracy should never fear questions and reiterated that his demands are for truth, justice and accountability, not revenge.