However, Sonam Wangchuk ended his fast yesterday, calling the violence ‘nonsense.'

Ladakh News: 4 Killed, 50 Arrested, Many Injured; Schools Shut, Gatherings Banned, Internet Slowed: At least four people were killed and over 60 were injured in what started as a peaceful protest that turned violent in Leh, Ladakh, yesterday. It was the first time violence of such nature was witnessed in Ladakh in decades.

According to India Today, 50 people have been arrested so far in connection with Wednesday’s clash, wherein the agitators set ablaze the local BJP office and the Council.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, climate activist and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk started a hunger strike on 10-09-2025, demanding the inclusion of Ladakh under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution and statehood for Ladakh.

Sonam Wangchuk, along with 15 people, started a 35-day fast, and seven out of them were former soldiers of the Indian Army. He stated that the hunger strike commenced after “talks between Ladakh & Centre fail miserably again.”

MHA, in its press release on Wednesday, following the violence outbreak, stated that the Government of India has been actively engaged with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance on the same issues and that a series of meetings were held with them through the formal channel of the High-Powered Committee as well as the Sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with leaders.

MHA, further in its press release, stated that the process of dialogue through the above-mentioned mechanism has yielded “phenomenal results by increasing reservations for Ladakh Scheduled Tribe from 45% to 84%, providing 1/3 women reservations in the councils and declaring Bhoti and Purgi as official languages. With this process, recruitment for 1800 posts was also commenced.”

“However, certain politically motivated individuals who were not happy with the progress made under HPC have been trying to sabotage the dialogue process,” MHA further stated.

It stated that the next meeting of the High-Powered Committee has been scheduled for 6th October, while meetings are also planned on 25th and 26th September with the leaders from Ladakh.

However, Ladakh People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule, in its Tuesday statement, said, “While we acknowledge the Ministry of Home Affairs’ recent communication regarding the next High-Powered Committee (HPC) meeting scheduled for 6th October 2025, we, along with the youth bodies and the public at large, find this date unreasonably delayed in the context of the worsening health conditions of those on fast and the growing unrest among the youth.”

It was the 15th day of their 35 days of hunger strike on Wednesday, and on the day before, two elderly people on the hunger strike had to be hospitalised after their health condition deteriorated.

Ladakh People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule on Wednesday, following the hospitalization of the two hunger strikers, appealed to the Government of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs to resume the HPC meeting earlier than the given date, stating, “to reflect the seriousness of the situation and to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the concerns of the people of Ladakh.”

According to the local media, the HPC meeting on October 6 with the centre comes after a four-month hiatus, with the last round of talks held on May 27, 2025, and the delay in convening further discussions led to public protest, including the hunger strike by Sonam Wangchuk and 15 others for 35 days to press for these demands.

However, Sonam Wangchuk ended his fast yesterday, calling the violence ‘nonsense.’
“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,” Sonam Wangchuk said in a post on X.

Following the violence, Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was imposed in Leh district to prevent danger to human life and the possibility of law and order problems and immediately banned protests and gatherings.

An assembly of five or more people was banned, along with processions, rallies or marches, the use of loudspeakers, and statements that had the potential to disturb the public.

The Office of the Chief Education Officer, Leh, UT Ladakh, keeping in view the prevailing situation, ordered the closure of schools on 25th September.

Meanwhile, religious bodies, including the Ladakh Buddhist Association and Anjuman Moin-Ul-Islam, appealed for peace.

Regarding the four lives lost in the violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs in its statement, said, “In self-defence, police had to resort to firing, in which, unfortunately, some casualties are reported.”

“On 24th September, at around 11.30 am, a mob instigated by provocative speeches left the venue of the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as the Government office of the CEC Leh. They also set these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched a police vehicle. The unruly mob attacked the police personnel in which more than 30 police/CRPF personnel were injured. The mob continued to destroy public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence, police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported,” the MHA statement read.

“Barring the unfortunate incidents that happened early in the day, the situation was brought under control by 4 PM,” it added.

(For more news apart from “Ladakh News: 4 Killed, 50 Arrested, Many Injured; Schools Shut, Gatherings Banned, Internet Slowed,” stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.