Leh, the administrative heart of Ladakh, has been under a strict curfew for three consecutive days following a surge of violence that left four dead and over 90 injured, marking the region's worst civil unrest in decades. The violence, which erupted on September 24, 2025, was sparked by deepening frustrations over demands for statehood and greater constitutional autonomy—a movement that has been building for years but reached a tragic crescendo this week.
According to Press Trust of India and Economic Times, the shutdown was called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to push forward talks with the central government. The demands center on statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Sixth Schedule, which would grant the region special protections over land, culture, and local governance. These demands are not new; both the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have spearheaded peaceful agitations for the past four years, organizing hunger strikes, marches, and multiple rounds of negotiations with the government.
But on September 24, what began as another day of protest quickly spiraled out of control. The immediate trigger, as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk explained in an online press conference, was the hospitalization of two hunger strikers—Tsering Angchuk, 72, and Tashi Dolma, 60—whose deteriorating health alarmed the protest’s youth wing. The resulting outpouring of emotion led to street clashes, arson, and the torching of the local office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as police and paramilitary vehicles. The Hill Council headquarters was also vandalized, prompting authorities to impose an indefinite curfew in Leh by evening.
Police and paramilitary forces responded with bullets, tear gas, and batons, citing self-defense as protesters threw stones and set vehicles ablaze. The Home Ministry, in a late-night statement, blamed the violence on "provocative statements" by Wangchuk and asserted that "certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakhi groups." The Ministry also reiterated its commitment to "the aspirations of the people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards."
Lt. Governor Kavinder Gupta, New Delhi’s top administrator in Ladakh, called the events "heart-wrenching" and emphasized, "Everyone has the right to speak up in a peaceful manner in a democratic system, but what happened was not spontaneous and was the result of a conspiracy. Curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent more casualties." His remarks echoed the widespread shock and sadness felt across the region. Wangchuk himself, visibly shaken, told supporters, "This is the saddest day for Ladakh and for myself personally because the path we are treading for the last five years was peaceful… We held hunger strikes on five occasions and walked from Leh to Delhi, but today we are seeing our message of peace failing because of the incidents of violence and arson."
Authorities detained at least 50 people overnight, according to PTI and Economic Times. Among the injured were three Nepali citizens, prompting police to investigate possible foreign involvement in the unrest. In addition to Leh, prohibitory restrictions banning the assembly of five or more people were swiftly imposed in other key towns, including Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra, Padam, Changtang, Drass, and Lamayuru. Kargil, home to a significant Muslim population (about 50% of Ladakh’s total), saw its own shutdown called by the KDA in solidarity with Wangchuk’s hunger strike. Shops and businesses in Kargil reopened only after a day-long closure, with police patrolling the streets to maintain order.
The scale and ferocity of the violence shocked many in Ladakh, a region known for its fragile high-altitude ecosystem and its history of peaceful protest. The region, nestled between India, Pakistan, and China, was carved out from Indian-controlled Kashmir in 2019 when New Delhi revoked the area’s statehood and semi-autonomy. Initially, many Ladakhis welcomed the change, hoping for more direct development and attention from the central government. But as time passed, concerns about land rights, loss of local trade, and threats to the delicate environment grew louder. The climate crisis has only sharpened these anxieties, as Ladakh’s thousands of glaciers retreat at an alarming rate, threatening water supplies for millions and amplifying the risks of floods, landslides, and droughts. Militarization in the region—especially since the 2020 India-China standoff—has further contributed to pollution and environmental strain.
The LAB and KDA have repeatedly called for statehood, the extension of the Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and the establishment of a Public Service Commission. Despite several rounds of talks, little concrete progress has been made. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for October 6, 2025, with a preparatory meeting in New Delhi set for late September, to be attended by representatives from both LAB and KDA as well as Ladakh’s Member of Parliament, Mohd Hanifa Jan.
Meanwhile, the daily lives of ordinary Ladakhis have been upended. Residents in Leh and neighboring towns have struggled to obtain essential supplies, with many complaining about shortages of food, milk, and vegetables due to the curfew and transport disruptions. The authorities have indicated that restrictions might be eased temporarily to allow people to buy necessities, but uncertainty remains.
District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar in Kargil has issued strict orders banning public assembly, processions, and demonstrations without written permission, as well as restrictions on the use of loudspeakers and public statements that could disturb the peace. The goal, officials say, is to prevent a repeat of the violence and to ensure that the upcoming talks can proceed in a stable environment.
Despite the turmoil, voices of moderation and dialogue persist. Sajjad Kargili, a local leader, urged the government to "act with wisdom, resume dialogue at the earliest and address people’s aspirations." Wangchuk, too, made a heartfelt appeal: "I request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith as it only causes harm to our cause and further deteriorates the situation. We do not want instability in Ladakh and the country."
Ladakh’s unrest is a stark reminder that the questions of autonomy, identity, and environmental stewardship remain unresolved in this remote Himalayan region. As the October talks approach, the eyes of the nation—and indeed the world—will be on Leh and Kargil, watching to see whether dialogue can succeed where violence has so tragically failed.