10 January 2013 :

a death sentence was pronounced for the first time in the court history of Ladakh region, India, against a 40-year-old shepherd who had raped and murdered a woman twice his age, a decade ago. Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh, Sanjay Parihar awarded death sentence citing the brutality and disregard to humanity with which the accused committed the unforgivable crime. Sonam Dorje, a resident of Khanrdungla area of Ladakh was 30 when he raped and murdered 60-year-old lady Tsomo in 2002 fall. Both Dorje and Tsomo were professional shepherds and were hired by local peasants to rear their yaks and pashmina goats. They were even migrating to far-off Changthang area to graze the livestock.
Dorjey had delinquent tendencies and has been awarded life sentence in another robbery and murder case. “He (Dorjay) was involved in several crimes and this (rape and murder of Tsomo) was the most heinous”, Parihar told The Pioneer from Leh on phone. “We have sent his file to the high court. He has a right to appeal against the death sentence”, he said.
Dorje is currently lodged in District Jail, Leh. “This is the first death sentence awarded in a Ladakh court”, Member of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Leh Bar Association President Shafi Lassu said.
Dorje, according to police, had mercilessly raped the victim after she allowed him overnight stay at her room at Danglas village near Khardungla. Like a maniac, Dorje had torn off victim’s clothes, raped her before strangulating to death. Her stripped body was found on the roadside and several belongings in her hutment were also missing. The murder evoked widespread resentment in the region. Ladakh was known for peaceful and simple inhabitants but the crime rate is slowly increasing in the region. Ladakh experts say that influx of outsiders and inflow of money through tourism and strategic requirements is transforming the social behavior of the people in the region.