Kargil warrior among those killed in Ladakh violence, father says, Pakistanis could not kill him, our forces did

An atmosphere of grief fills a home in Sabu village, eight kilometers from Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The body of Kargil War veteran Tsewang Tharchin lies in the center of the house, surrounded by family members reciting Buddhist mantras. Tharchin, 46, was among four people killed in a shooting during a protest in Leh on September 24th.

The protesters were demanding statehood for Ladakh and special rights under the Sixth Schedule. When the protests turned violent, police opened fire, killing four people, including Tharchin.

According to the Indian Express report, Tharchin served as a Havildar in the Ladakh Scouts from 1996 to 2017 and participated in the Kargil War. He fought against the Pakistanis in the Tololing sector. After retirement, he ran a clothing store in Leh.

Tsewang Tharchin Father Said

His father, Stanzin Namgyal, also fought in the Kargil War. He retired from the Army in 2002 as a Subedar Major and Honorary Captain. On his son's death, he said,

"My son was a patriot. The Pakistanis could not kill him, our own forces killed him. Should patriots like us be treated like this?"

The family alleges that there are stick marks on Tharchin's body, suggesting he was beaten before being shot. The family has described Tharchin's death as a "murder." Tharchin's wife has demanded an impartial investigation into the incident. She says,

"Who gave the order to fire? Who shot? Why wasn't the mob controlled with rubber bullets or tear gas? We are shocked that our own people killed them."

Tharchin's younger brother is an engineer. He says, "Whenever there's a war, we Ladakhis come forward to help the army. Now we're being called traitors." He says that the government's indifference to the legitimate demands of Ladakhis led to his brother's death.

"What are the people demanding? Rights over their land and economy? The right to self-governance, the right to preserve their unique culture. But how will you answer this by firing bullets at us and jailing our most vocal voice, Sonam Wangchuk?"

Tsewang Tharchin's father said, "My son has died for Ladakh. I hope the government will listen to us." He added that joining the Indian Army is in our blood and despite this incident, our children will join the Army.