Leh, September 13: Nearly a year after the violence of September 24, 2025, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday announced compensation of Rs 15 lakh each to the next of kin of the four persons killed in the incident, besides ex-gratia assistance for those injured.
Announcing the decision, Saxena said the Ladakh Administration had sanctioned the compensation as part of its continued commitment to supporting families affected by the “tragic violence” in Ladakh on September 24 last year.
The administration has also approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh for each person who sustained major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
The announcement comes amid continuing efforts to address the fallout of the September 24 violence, which erupted in Leh during protests over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. Four civilians were killed and scores of people were injured during the clashes and subsequent police action.
In his statement, Saxena expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what he described as his “sensitive, humanitarian and guiding approach” and said Shah had “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 LG said, “the Ladakh Administration firmly stands beside every affected family in their journey towards healing and overcoming the grief.”
The compensation announcement addresses one of the key issues that has remained unresolved since the September 24 violence. The families of those killed and injured, as well as Ladakh’s principal political and civil society groups, have repeatedly sought financial relief for those affected.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had, in their demands before the Centre, sought dignified compensation and appropriate assistance for those killed and injured in the September 24 violence. Compensation had subsequently remained part of the broader dialogue over reconciliation and restoration of normalcy in Ladakh.
The decision also comes at a time when the administration has been taking steps to deal with cases registered in connection with the violence. The government has initiated the process for closure of cases against several persons arrested or booked following the September 24 unrest, another issue that had figured prominently in the demands of Ladakh’s political leadership.
The September 24 violence had marked one of the most serious episodes of unrest in Ladakh since the Union Territory was created in 2019. The incident sharply strained relations between the administration and sections of the public and led to renewed demands for accountability, relief for victims and a political resolution of Ladakh’s demands.
The compensation announced by the LG does not, however, settle questions surrounding the circumstances that led to the deaths and injuries. A judicial inquiry into the September 24 events remains an important part of the wider effort to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence.
For the families of the four deceased and those injured, the financial assistance nevertheless represents the administration’s first substantial formal compensation package nearly a year after the incident.
Ladakh LG announces Rs 15 lakh compensation for kin of each Sept 24 victim
