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Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is spearheading the agitation, ended his 15-day hunger strike in the wake of the violence. He appealed for calm, calling the development unfortunate.
“Very sad events in Leh. My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause,” he posted on X.
VERY SAD EVENTS IN LEH
My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.#LadakhAnshan pic.twitter.com/CzTNHoUkoC
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 24, 2025
But why did Leh see violent protests? We take a look.
Violent protests in Leh
Violence erupted in Leh town during a shutdown call issued by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), a combination of religious social and political organisations.
Protesters gathered outside the BJP office to express their frustration with the Centre for not resuming talks with representatives of Ladakh over a series of demands, reported The Hindu.
The shutdown was announced after two elderly people, on a hunger strike since September 10 along with Wangchuk, fainted on Tuesday and had to be hospitalised.
“An elderly woman and a man fainted yesterday. The news spread fast, and students called for a shutdown today (Wednesday),” Congress leader Tsering Namgyal told The Indian Express. “This morning, a large number of people moved towards the anshan (hunger strike) site. The youth went out of control.”
A large number of police and paramilitary forces were deployed at the site, according to Namgyal.
During the shutdown today, violence broke out when the police attempted to disperse the protesters outside the BJP office, locals told The Hindu.
A security vehicle outside the saffron party's office was set on fire by the protesters. Police fired teargas and baton-charged the protesters after some people allegedly pelted stones.
VIDEO | Leh, Ladakh: Police fired teargas shells and resorted to baton charge after a group of youths allegedly turned violent and pelted stones amid a massive protest and shutdown.
The protest was held in support of the demand to advance the proposed talks with the Centre on… pic.twitter.com/ebFGf8AeBO
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 24, 2025
As per The Hindu, many vehicles were set ablaze during the clashes between the BJP supporters and the LAB activists.
Four people died and more than 50 were injured in the violence.
Leh’s District Magistrate imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, which bars assembly of more than five people.
Authorities also cancelled the closing ceremony of the four-day annual Ladakh Festival, which had begun on Sunday, following the unrest.
The administration cited "unavoidable circumstances" and expressed regret over the inconvenience to local artists, cultural groups, tourists, and the public.
Why protests rocked Ladakh
Two weeks ago, activist Sonam Wangchuk began his hunger strike to press the Centre for the demand of statehood for Ladakh and extending Sixth Schedule status to the region.
Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories — J&K with a legislature, and Ladakh without one.
With this, Ladakh has come under direct rule of the Central administration. Since then, the political and legal status of Ladakh has become a contentious subject.
The demand for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule has grown. This provision grants tribal-majority areas in certain northeastern states legislative and financial autonomy via autonomous district councils. The demand stems from the fact that 90 per cent of Ladakh’s population belongs to the Scheduled Tribes.
Wangchuk ends hunger strike
Activist Sonam Wangchuk called the protests on Wednesday a 'Gen-Z revolution'.
"If agitating youth are worried about the fasting protesters and expressing their anger, we have decided to end our fast," he said.
Wangchuk appealed to the youth to maintain peace. “Events that unfolded are unfortunate. There has been growing anger after two of my colleagues on hunger strike were hospitalised. I appeal to youth not to resort to violence and urge the government to be sensitive towards the demands of the region,” he added.
Wangchuk also urged the administration to stop the use of teargas and any intimidation of youth.
Speaking to PTI, he said later, "The violence overpowered our peaceful protest, just in one day, it looks like failing. The political partis here are incompetent, they don't have the capability to give direction to youths. People are angered."
Talks with Centre
A fresh round of talks between the Centre and Ladakh representatives, including members of the LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), is slated for October 6 in New Delhi.
The two bodies have been jointly leading an agitation over the past four years over their demands. They have also held multiple rounds of discussions with the government.
Protesters were asking the Centre to advance the talks due to the prolonged hunger strike and growing worries in the public over Ladakh’s political future.
Wangchuck recently rejected the announcement of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on Ladakh will meet the representatives of the LAB and the KDA next month.
He has been calling for immediately resuming “result-oriented” talks between the Centre and Ladakh on their “long pending” demands.
Meanwhile, the KDA has issued a shutdown call on Thursday (September 25) to show solidarity with the LAB and their demands.
Politicians react to violent protests
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed anguish over the unfulfilled promise of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Reacting to the violent protests in Ladakh, he wrote on X that the people of Ladakh weren’t even promised statehood, and they "celebrated" the status of Union Territory in 2019, yet they feel "betrayed and angry" today.
He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir has been demanding statehood democratically, peacefully, and responsibly, but the promise remains unfulfilled, leaving its people feeling equally “betrayed and disappointed.”
People's Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X: “It’s time the Government of India undertakes a sincere and thorough appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019. This video isn’t from the Kashmir Valley considered the epicentre of unrest but from the heart of Ladakh, where angry protesters have set police vehicles and a BJP office on fire.”
It’s time the Government of India undertakes a sincere and thorough appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019. This video isn’t from the Kashmir Valley considered the epicentre of unrest but from the heart of Ladakh, where angry protesters have set police vehicles and a BJP… pic.twitter.com/nJMmCA7oOA
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 24, 2025
BJP leader Amit Malviya blamed the Congress for the unrest in Leh. Taking to X, he wrote: "This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward. He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been fantasising about?"
This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward.
He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council.
Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been… pic.twitter.com/o2WHdcCIuC
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 24, 2025
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said while everyone has a right to protest in a democracy, it should be done peacefully.
“For the past two days, attempts have been made to incite people, and the protest held here was compared to those held in Bangladesh and Nepal. This smells of a conspiracy behind the protest,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
With inputs from agencies
