The demand for a judicial enquiry into the September 24 police firing in Leh, which claimed four lives and left scores injured, grew stronger on Thursday as Buddhist religious bodies and the Kargil Bar Association pressed for accountability and justice.

The Ladakh administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, appointing the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nubra as the enquiry officer, who has been asked to submit a report within four weeks. Meanwhile, 26 young men detained during the violent protests were released on bail, a step that coincided with the relaxation of curfew across Leh after a week of restrictions.

At a solemn joint prayer meeting, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the All Ladakh Gonpa Association paid tributes to the four youths killed in the firing and to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. After prayers, the groups unanimously passed a resolution demanding an impartial judicial enquiry into what they called “excessive force and indiscriminate firing” by security forces, compensation for the victims’ families, and the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who remains jailed in Rajasthan under the National Security Act.

“Normalcy will only return if justice is done. We want a judicial enquiry, fair compensation, and an end to the harassment of local youths,” LBA president Chering Dorjay told reporters. He confirmed that the association’s legal advisor has been permitted to meet Wangchuk, with some of his family members also granted access.

The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which have long been pressing for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, said they would boycott the October 6 talks with the Centre unless a judicial probe is ordered and all detainees are freed.

The Kargil Bar Association, meanwhile, announced a week-long strike in solidarity with the victims’ families. “We will abstain from all judicial work until October 6. Justice demands transparency and accountability,” a spokesperson said, adding that the association would provide free legal aid to those affected.

With curfew restrictions eased, Leh’s markets reopened on Thursday, and daily life showed signs of recovery. However, mobile internet remains suspended and prohibitory orders banning large gatherings continue across Ladakh.

The September 24 violence has become a rallying point for wider political demands in the region, with both religious and civil groups framing it as a test of justice, dignity, and Ladakh’s future.

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