LADAKH|SEPTEMBER 25,2025|SKY LINK TIMES|
Ladakh witnessed its most violent protest in years on Wednesday after a massive agitation for statehood and constitutional protections turned deadly in Leh. At least four people were killed and more than 50 injured, including 30 police and paramilitary personnel, as clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces.
Ladakh Protest Spirals Out of Control in Leh
According to reports from PTI, the protest began as a peaceful march in Leh, with thousands gathering at the NDS Memorial Ground before moving through the town, chanting slogans in support of statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh.
The situation escalated when some youth allegedly pelted stones at the headquarters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). Protesters set fire to vehicles, furniture, and documents inside the BJP office complex. Security forces deployed across Leh fired teargas shells and later resorted to firing in “self-defence,” according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Casualties and Injuries Reported
Officials confirmed that four people lost their lives in the violence while over 50, including civilians, police, and CRPF personnel, sustained injuries. The MHA stated that 30 security personnel were hurt in stone-pelting incidents and blamed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a 15-day hunger strike over the issue, for allegedly instigating the mob.
Wangchuk, however, has since called off his hunger strike and appealed for peace, urging protesters to avoid violence while continuing their movement through dialogue.
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Why Ladakh is Demanding Statehood
The demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections has been growing in Ladakh since the region was carved out of Jammu & Kashmir and made a Union Territory in 2019.
The Sixth Schedule currently applies to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, providing them special autonomy in governance, judiciary, and financial powers. Ladakhi groups, particularly the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), argue that similar protections are essential to safeguard Ladakh’s environment, resources, and unique cultural identity.
Talks Scheduled with Centre
Despite multiple rounds of negotiations in the past four years, the LAB and KDA say little progress has been made. A fresh round of talks between the MHA and the Ladakh groups is now scheduled for October 6, 2025.
In the wake of Wednesday’s violence, Leh town was placed under strict curfew, and additional security reinforcements were rushed in to prevent further unrest.
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