Slain man’s father says even Chinese didn’t shoot during Galwan clash
Ladakhis dismiss Delhi’s bid to blame Pakistan, China for homegrown uprising
Leh: Deep grief and outrage prevail in Ladakh as families of those killed in Indian forces’ firing continue to demand justice, with the father of a slain ex-Army man drawing a sharp comparison with the Galwan clash.
According to Kashmir Media Service, preparations are underway in Solar Colony near Leh for the last rites of 45-year-old Tsewang Tharchin, a former soldier who fought in the Kargil war and was among four civilians shot dead during recent protests. His father, Stanzin Namgial, himself a Kargil veteran, said, “Even during the Galwan clash, the Chinese didn’t open fire. Here, the police and Indian armed forces fired on their own people. My son didn’t deserve this.”
Namgial said his son served the Indian Army with full dedication until 2021, but was gunned down in cold blood. “Usually as per SOPs, firing is done in the air or below the knees. We saw Tharchin’s body; it looked like he was pushed to the ground and shot,” he said. The grieving father added that the administration had not even expressed regret, while the family reiterated their demand for a judicial probe.
Meanwhile, Ladakh’s political and religious leadership has said the killings and detentions will be raised strongly in upcoming talks with India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Members of the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance are set to travel to New Delhi this week for a preparatory meeting ahead of October 6 talks.
Leh Apex Body co-convenor Chering Dorje Lakruk said, “We will explain how firing occurred without any warning. Now we are being labelled anti-nationals, with claims that Pakistan and China are behind the protests, which is totally untrue.” He added that only a judicial probe and concrete progress on Ladakh’s four core demands — including statehood and constitutional safeguards — can restore people’s trust.
