According to the reports on Thursday (25 September), violence erupted in Leh on Wednesday (24 September) during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to demand statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Clashes turned violent with arson, vandalism of the Hill Council headquarters, the BJP office, and vehicles, leaving four people dead and over 80 injured. The unrest prompted authorities to impose an indefinite curfew in Leh and detain at least 50 people involved in the violence.
The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been leading agitations in Ladakh for the past four years, holding several rounds of talks with the Central government. The shutdown in Kargil, organized in support of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, also saw prohibitory measures enforced, including bans on public gatherings, processions, and use of loudspeakers without permission. Authorities deployed heavy police and paramilitary forces in multiple towns to prevent further violence.
The immediate trigger for the protests appears to have been the hospitalization of two hunger strikers on Tuesday 23 September 2025. Mr. Wangchuk, who had been on a fortnight-long hunger strike, called off his fast after the clashes escalated. He appealed to the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence, emphasizing that unrest would harm their cause and worsen the situation in the region.
Authorities and government officials stressed that the violence was neither spontaneous nor justified. The Home Ministry condemned politically motivated actions that disrupted peace, while Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta described the events as heart-wrenching and reaffirmed that the government remains committed to providing constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. The next round of talks with Ladakhi groups is scheduled for 6 October 2025.
References
Leh Violence Erupts as Curfew Imposed and Dozens Detained
Curfew imposed in Ladakh after intense clashes; heavy security in towns, 50 detained
