What is the story about?
New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over last year’s violence in Leh, and said
he feared he could be killed in an "encounter" for speaking against the government. Speaking at a gathering on the first anniversary of the September 24, 2025 violence, Wangchuk said he had received warnings about threats to his life and was prepared to face any consequences if it helped awaken the country. "They have put me in jail. Now there is even a possibility that I could be encountered somewhere. People tell me, 'You will be encountered'. If that happens, let it happen — so that the country wakes up," the activist said. Wangchuk also demanded that the report of the judicial inquiry into the violence be made public. He said that if the report was not released, an independent "people's tribunal" would be formed to examine the police firing. The Ministry of Home Affairs had ordered a judicial inquiry headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B S Chauhan into the circumstances surrounding the September 24, 2025 law-and-order situation, the police action and the deaths of four people.
Wangchuk Demands Amit Shah's Resignation
Holding Shah politically responsible for the deaths, Wangchuk said accountability must be fixed for what happened in Ladakh.
"Today, from Ladakh, I say — Amit Shah should resign. He has to take responsibility for what happened in Ladakh," Wangchuk said.
He alleged that security personnel had used automatic weapons, including AK-47s, against local youth during the protests, who were later branded as "anti-national".
Wangchuk also referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's demand for Shah's resignation over police action against students at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He said he supported Gandhi's demand but questioned why Ladakh was not being discussed.
"Rahul Gandhi stood up and asked how such weapons could be used against students, demanding Amit Shah’s resignation. I support that," Wangchuk said.
"But if he demanded Amit Shah’s resignation earlier, then what about what happened in Ladakh, where AK-47s were used and people were killed, with bullets hitting their heads and chests?" he said.
Wangchuk alleged that protesters were killed by firing from automatic weapons during last year's violence.
"A year ago, when the youth of Ladakh were trapped in such a situation, their lives were taken and they were subsequently branded as anti-national. Today, I say that those responsible must take responsibility," he said.
Ladakh's Statehood, Sixth Schedule Demands
Wangchuk linked last year's violence to Ladakh's long-standing demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards, including protection under the Sixth Schedule.
He alleged that assurances made to the people of Ladakh had not been fulfilled and said justice for the region was the responsibility of the entire country.
A shutdown was observed in Leh and other parts of Ladakh on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of last year's violence. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Leh and Kargil, while traffic was thin on the roads. The day was observed by some sections in Ladakh as "Martyrs' Day".
Wangchuk alleged that heavy security deployment and restrictions had contributed to the low turnout at Thursday's commemoration.
"People are afraid because there are barricades everywhere and armed personnel have been deployed in villages and at crossings," he alleged.
He also claimed that some village representatives and students were being discouraged from attending programmes held to remember those killed.
Ladakh Police Reject Allegations
The Ladakh Police rejected Wangchuk's allegations as "false, baseless, and misleading".
The police said no one was stopped from attending the prayer meeting organised to pay tribute to the victims of the 2025 violence. It said security deployments were part of standard traffic and crowd-management arrangements.
The police said permission had been granted to the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) to hold the public meeting at the NDS ground in Leh, which has a capacity of 10,000 people.
"This event saw a limited turnout, with less than 800 people attending... The police did not stop any individual from proceeding to the venue or attending the event," the police said.
According to the police, barricades in Leh were put up for traffic and crowd management after organisers had initially projected a larger gathering.
'Ladakh Chose India Because We Believed In Democracy'
Wangchuk said Ladakh had chosen to remain with India because people believed in democracy and the right to live with dignity.
He alleged that the situation in Ladakh had instead created an atmosphere of fear and was contrary to the democratic aspirations of the people.
The activist also criticised Shah's tenure as home minister, saying:
"Since he became home minister, there have been riots and disturbances everywhere, and in Ladakh, promises were made and then broken," he said.
"Ladakh had China on one side and India on the other. Ladakh chose India because we believed that in India, there is democracy, we would be able to live with our heads held high," Wangchuk said.
"And today, such oppression is being inflicted on Ladakh that, in my view, even China is not doing this to Tibet," he added.
Wangchuk Seeks Probe Into Police Firing
Wangchuk also questioned the claim that the September 2025 firing was carried out in self-defence and said the circumstances should be investigated.
"Unarmed people, who were peacefully demanding their rights, were fired upon indiscriminately. Four people were killed in that firing. The bullets did not hit their legs; people were hit in the chest and back," he said.
He further alleged that three magistrates present during the violence had refused to sign firing orders and claimed that pressure was later put on them. Wangchuk said these allegations should also be examined by the judicial inquiry.
He named the four people killed during the violence as Linchen Dadul of Hanu, Tigment Dorje of Kharnaag, Salwin Namgyal of Egoo and Sandin Dorje of Shitman.
"Justice must be given to the martyrs. Justice must be given to Ladakh," he said.
