To prevent further escalation of violence, Sonam Wangchuk announced the end of his hunger strike today.
Sonam Wangchuk Ends Hunger Strike to Stop Violence, BJP Office Torched in Leh Ladakh Latest News: The BJP district office was vandalized on Wednesday in major violence that broke out in Leh district of the Union Territory of Ladakh between protestors and security personnel. Several police vehicles were also set on fire.
For years, the people of Ladakh, led by Sonam Wangchuk, have organized multiple democratic and peaceful demonstrations demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. However, this was the first incident of such violence, triggered after the deteriorating health conditions of those on hunger strike enraged the youth and people of Ladakh.
On Sunday, in view of the worsening health of protestors and delays in the resumption of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Apex Youth, Students, and People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule called for a ‘Ladakh Bandh’ on September 24. The bandh was aimed at pressing for an earlier resumption of the high-powered committee meeting between Ladakh’s civil society leaders and the MHA.
The MHA has scheduled the meeting for October 6 to address the longstanding demands for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. However, the people’s movement criticized the date as “unreasonably delayed,” citing the deteriorating health of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other hunger strikers. September 23 marked the 14th day of their planned 35-day hunger strike.
Two youths who had been on hunger strike for 14 days in solidarity with the movement experienced serious health deterioration and had to be urgently hospitalized, the appeal stated. The movement urged the MHA and the Government of India to convene the meeting earlier in September “to reflect the seriousness of the situation and to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the concerns of the people of Ladakh.”
As a mark of protest and solidarity, a complete bandh was observed on September 24. The appeal had warned, “If no positive response is received, a series of democratic and non-violent movements shall be led by the youth bodies and concerned citizens in the coming days.” It further urged residents, organizations, and institutions to peacefully support the bandh and “stand united in this collective call for justice, dialogue, and dignity for the people of Ladakh.”
The upcoming meeting with the MHA comes after a four-month hiatus, with the last round of talks held on May 27, 2025. The delay in resuming talks had led to the hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk and others to press for Ladakh’s demands once again.
Ladakh was bifurcated from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 when Article 370 was revoked by the Centre, making it a Union Territory without a legislative assembly. Since then, the people of Ladakh have been demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
In the wake of Tuesday's appeal, thousands of people flooded the streets of Ladakh in peaceful demonstrations, which somehow turned violent.
To prevent further escalation of violence, Sonam Wangchuk announced the end of his hunger strike today. He urged the youth not to take the path of violence.
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