Leh, Ladakh – September 24, 2025 – Police in Leh opened fire on demonstrators demanding statehood for Ladakh, killing four people and injuring dozens, after rallies turned violent in the Himalayan region. Authorities have imposed a strict curfew and detained more than 50 protesters following the unrest.
The clashes erupted after angry demonstrators torched the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office, the chief executive councillor’s premises, and a police vehicle. Both protesters and security personnel sustained injuries.
Human Rights Watch condemned the incident, urging restraint and accountability. “People across Asia, particularly young people, are losing patience with governments that fail to deliver on jobs, governance, and accountability,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, the group’s deputy Asia director. “Instead of silencing peaceful dissent, authorities should focus on impartial investigations and addressing the causes of unrest.”
The BJP-led government accused Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh’s prominent educationist and climate activist, of fueling the violence. The Home Ministry alleged Wangchuk incited people by referring to the Arab Spring and youth-led movements in Nepal.
Wangchuk rejected the charge, calling for calm and dialogue. He said the anger stemmed from disillusioned young people who see “unemployment and a government unwilling to listen” as a formula for turmoil. He described the unrest as a “Gen-Z uprising.”
A Longstanding Dispute
Ladakh, which borders China and Pakistan, was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 after New Delhi revoked the region’s special constitutional status and divided it into two federally governed territories. Since then, civil society coalitions—the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance—have mobilized residents, demanding statehood, greater political representation, local control over land and resources, and job security.
Wangchuk has been at the forefront of these campaigns, staging hunger strikes and long marches. Last year, he and hundreds of supporters attempted a 1,000-kilometre march to Delhi but were detained by police before being allowed to proceed to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. Earlier this month, he launched a 35-day hunger strike with 14 others to pressure the government into talks. He ended his fast on September 25 after the deaths in Leh.
The Home Ministry defended the police action, stating officers fired “in self-defence” as the crowd allegedly attacked security forces and destroyed government property.
Growing Scrutiny on Activists
Meanwhile, the government escalated its scrutiny of Wangchuk. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opened an inquiry into his organisation, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). On September 25, the Home Ministry revoked SECMOL’s FCRA license, effectively cutting off foreign funding. Wangchuk dismissed the charges as “politically motivated.”
Civil society groups say the case mirrors a broader crackdown on NGOs and activists in India. Over the past decade, the authorities have frequently used financial probes, sedition laws, and counterterrorism statutes to stifle critics, while also curbing protests through curfews, internet shutdowns, and heavy policing.
Opposition parties blamed the ruling BJP for ignoring Ladakhis’ long-standing demands and mishandling the crisis.
“The deaths in Leh highlight the danger of suppressing peaceful movements instead of engaging with them,” Ganguly said. “Unless the government listens, discontent in Ladakh is only likely to deepen.”
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