SRINAGAR: A 17-year-old boy’s threat to immolate himself outside the BJP office in Leh unless justice is delivered in the killing of four civilians, including his father, has brought renewed attention to the delay in the submission of a judicial inquiry report into last year’s violence in Ladakh.
The teenager, whose father Tsewang Tharchin, a Kargil War veteran, was among the four civilians killed in September 2025 when security personnel allegedly opened fire on protesters in Leh, has expressed anguish over the absence of answers about the circumstances surrounding the killings.
In a video uploaded on November 12, the boy, speaking in Hindi, said his father had fought in the 1999 Kargil War but the family was still waiting for justice following his death.
“What happened? Who did it? Who gave the orders? Who fired the bullets? We have no answers to any of these questions,” he said, questioning the delay in the judicial inquiry report.
Linking his father’s death to the movement for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, he said his father had sacrificed his life for a cause important to the region. “We want justice! We want safeguards!,” he said.
In another video uploaded on November 8, the teenager, speaking in his native language, had threatened to immolate himself outside the BJP office if justice was not delivered in the case.
The videos triggered concern among political and social organisations in Leh, particularly as the teenager participated in the fresh agitation launched by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) earlier this week.
The boy was present at the protest site on Friday when the local administration approached him and sought to arrange a medical consultation following the circulation of his videos. However, the Apex Body handed him over to his mother, after which the two remained untraceable.
Police personnel subsequently visited their residence in Solar Colony, Leh, late on Friday night but could not find them, prompting a search operation.
The Ladakh Police issued a lookout notice, stating that the teenager had threatened to commit self-immolation through his YouTube channel. Referring to a medical assessment conducted on November 13 at NDS Memorial Park, where the LAB’s protest is underway, the notice said the boy appeared to be experiencing distress and required a comprehensive medical examination at a hospital.
The development prompted the UT Administration’s Health Department to constitute a medical team to assess the teenager’s condition and provide counselling.
In a statement issued on Sunday, quoting Director Health Department Dr Thinles, the administration said a clinical assessment and counselling had been conducted in view of concerns arising from the viral videos involving the minor.
The medical team, comprising healthcare professionals, undertook a preliminary assessment in the presence of a magistrate through interviews and clinical interactions to understand the circumstances, identify signs of emotional distress and determine whether any clinically diagnosable conditions, including depression or anxiety disorders, required further attention.
The administration said the assessment was considered necessary to address concerns regarding the boy’s health and well-being. However, the medical team recommended that a comprehensive assessment be undertaken in a hospital setting rather than at the open public space of NDS Memorial Park.
It said a hospital would provide the privacy and professional environment necessary for a proper clinical examination. The team also emphasised the importance of understanding the adolescent’s individual circumstances and taking relevant history before arriving at any clinical opinion.
Appropriate counselling, care and further intervention, wherever required, were also considered part of the process, the statement said.
The UT Administration reiterated its commitment to the well-being of adolescents, stressing that cases involving emotional or psychological distress must be addressed sensitively, professionally and with due regard to privacy and confidentiality.
Meanwhile, the family-related developments drew criticism from the Leh Apex Body, which accused the administration of pursuing the teenager in a manner that could aggravate his distress.
LAB chief Chering Dorjay Lakrook blamed the administration for the situation, saying the boy was distressed because he believed his family had not received justice and the judicial inquiry report had been delayed.
“It is very unfortunate that they are dealing with him like this,” he said, adding that the police had been pursuing the boy since Friday.
The teenager’s grandfather, a former Army personnel who also fought in the Kargil War, accused the police of harassing the family. “The police came to the protest site yesterday looking for him. They should stop the harassment,” he told The Tribune.
On Saturday, close relatives confirmed that the mother and son were safe. Lakrook subsequently said the Apex Body had been informed by the boy’s grandfather that both were safe and well.
In a public appeal issued on Saturday, the LAB chief urged people to respect the privacy and dignity of the family of Tsewang Tharchin and refrain from circulating their names, photographs or videos on social media.
He said the Apex Body had made continuous efforts to trace the mother and son after they left their residence without informing anyone and that confirmation of their safety had brought relief.
“Continued public attention, speculation and circulation of their photographs may unintentionally add to their emotional distress and further complicate an already difficult situation,” the appeal said.
The Ladakh Police said the objective of the UT Administration and the police was to ensure that the teenager received appropriate counselling through the Child Welfare Committee at the earliest.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Leh, Fulzele Piyush Nirakar, did not respond to calls seeking his comments.
The episode has once again brought the focus on the unresolved questions surrounding the September 2025 killings, in which four civilians died during protests over Ladakh’s demands for constitutional safeguards. The delay in the judicial inquiry report has continued to fuel demands for accountability among the affected families and the region’s civil society organisations.
