Ladakh LG announces Rs 15 lakh compensation to kin of four civilians killed in last year’s police firing; Rs 3 lakh to seriously injured; Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries

Ladakh Lt. Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday sanctioned a compensation of Rs.15 lakh to next of kin of each of the four civilians killed in police firing on an unruly mob in Leh on 24 September last year.

The LG also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh for those with major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries.

The police firing followed after violent mobs indulged in arson and ransacking government and BJP properties.

More than 80 civilians and an equal number of policemen were injured in the clashes.

The authorities blamed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk for inciting violence and later detained him under the National Safety Act (NSA) and lodged him in the Jodhpur jail.

A judicial enquiry is ongoing into the police firing that killed four civilians, including a retired soldier.

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had in its recent meeting on Ladakh issue with a MHA team raised the issue of delay in payment of compensation to victims of the police firing.

While announcing the relief, LG Saxena said “Deeply grateful to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah for his sensitive, humanitarian and guiding approach, who has always stood in solidarity with the victims and their families”.

“While no compensation amount can replace a life lost or erase the pain endured, the Ladakh Administration firmly stands beside every affected family in their journey towards healing and overcoming the grief”, he added.