The demand for full statehood and constitutional safeguards in Ladakh has erupted into violent unrest, leaving at least four people dead and around 100 injured in Leh, according to official sources
By: Javid Amin | 25 September 2025
The Himalayan Faultline Explodes
On September 24, 2025, Ladakh — India’s youngest Union Territory — witnessed its deadliest civilian unrest since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. What began as a peaceful rally in Leh demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule spiraled into chaos. Four people were killed, over 100 injured, and the BJP office in Leh was set ablaze.
Curfew was declared. Paramilitary forces patrolled streets. And the global spotlight turned to the high-altitude desert, not for its beauty, but for its boiling anger against Delhi.
For Ladakhis, the violence was not just about one protest — it was the eruption of six years of pent-up frustration: broken promises, political vacuum, loss of land protections, and growing fears of cultural erosion.
The Road to Unrest: Ladakh’s Journey Since 2019
To understand the present crisis, one must revisit Ladakh’s political journey:
2019: Article 370 Abrogation and UT Status
-
On August 5, 2019, the Indian government revoked Jammu & Kashmir’s special status and carved out Ladakh as a separate Union Territory without legislature.
-
Initially, celebrations erupted in Leh — many Buddhists believed direct Delhi control would mean greater development, jobs, and protection from Kashmiri politics.
2020–2021: The Reality of UT Rule
-
Without an elected assembly, Ladakh came under bureaucratic administration.
-
Local groups began realizing they had no legislative power to decide land use, jobs, or cultural safeguards.
-
Fears grew that large-scale industrial projects, outsiders buying land, and demographic shifts could dilute Ladakh’s fragile identity.
2021–2023: The Rise of LAB & KDA
-
Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) in Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in Kargil emerged as joint platforms cutting across sectarian lines.
-
They demanded statehood, Sixth Schedule protections, and job reservations.
-
This rare unity between Leh’s Buddhists and Kargil’s Muslims symbolized the seriousness of the movement.
2020–2025: China Factor & Climate Worries
-
The India–China standoff in eastern Ladakh (Galwan clash of 2020) placed Ladakh at the center of national security concerns.
-
Climate activists like Sonam Wangchuk highlighted Ladakh’s fragile ecology, melting glaciers, and the danger of unsustainable development without local consent.
2024–2025: Wangchuk’s Hunger Strikes
-
Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strikes in Leh drew international attention. His message: “Safeguards or Survival — Ladakh Cannot Wait.”
-
Negotiations with Delhi dragged on, with promises of dialogue but no concrete roadmap.
By September 2025, patience had snapped.
September 24, 2025: From Protest to Inferno
The protest call came from the Ladakh Apex Body, supported by student and tribal groups. Thousands poured into Leh streets with banners reading:
“Statehood Now, Safeguards Forever.”
Initially peaceful, the rally turned violent after clashes broke out near the BJP office. Stones were thrown, tear gas shells fired, and eventually, the BJP office and a police vehicle were torched.
-
Casualties: Four dead, 100+ injured.
-
Security forces: Over 30 police and CRPF injured.
-
Curfew: Imposed in parts of Leh, internet suspended.
The images shocked India: Ladakhis — usually seen as peaceful, spiritual, and eco-conscious — were now rioting against Delhi’s silence.
Voices from the Ground
Mohammad Ali, Gujjar youth leader from Kargil:
“For years they told us development will come. But what development, if our land is sold, if our jobs go to outsiders, if our culture dies?”
Tsering Dolkar, student protester in Leh:
“We were promised empowerment. Instead, we are ruled by bureaucrats who don’t understand us. We want statehood, not subjugation.”
Sonam Wangchuk, after ending his hunger strike:
“My appeal for peace failed today. I beg our youth — stop violence. But Delhi must wake up. Without safeguards, Ladakhis feel abandoned.”
Senior police officer in Leh:
“The violence was unexpected. We’ve handled dozens of peaceful marches. This one spiraled fast. The anger is deeper than law and order — it’s political.”
The Core Demands
At the heart of the movement are four key demands:
-
Full Statehood for Ladakh – with an elected assembly and legislative powers.
-
Sixth Schedule Inclusion – constitutional safeguards for land, culture, and jobs.
-
Separate Public Service Commission – to ensure job opportunities for locals.
-
Parliamentary Representation – stronger voice in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Sixth Schedule is critical. It currently applies to some tribal areas in the Northeast, giving autonomous councils power over land, forests, and resources. Ladakh’s tribal-majority population (over 90%) believes this is essential to preserve its fragile ecology and identity.
Delhi’s Dilemma: Why the Delay?
The Modi government faces a tightrope walk:
-
National Security: Ladakh is a frontline region against China. Delhi fears too much autonomy could complicate defense policies.
-
Precedent Fear: Granting Sixth Schedule could spark similar demands in other UTs and states.
-
Electoral Politics: BJP celebrated UT status in 2019 as a “historic achievement.” Backtracking now could be seen as a political loss.
-
Diplomatic Sensitivity: Any unrest in Ladakh strengthens China and Pakistan’s narrative on the global stage.
A senior BJP leader privately admitted:
“We want to keep Ladakh calm without reversing our 2019 position. But ignoring LAB and Wangchuk is proving costly.”
The Strategic Angle: Ladakh Between Delhi & Beijing
Ladakh is not just a local issue — it is geopolitical ground zero.
-
China Factor: Since 2020, PLA has entrenched itself in parts of eastern Ladakh. Any instability gives Beijing leverage.
-
Environment: Melting glaciers threaten India’s water security. Ladakhis argue they must have a say in ecological decisions.
-
Tourism & Militarization: While Ladakh has seen a boom in tourism and defense infrastructure, locals feel they have no control over the model of development.
Future Scenarios: What Lies Ahead?
October 6 Talks
The Centre has scheduled a new round of talks with LAB and KDA leaders. But expectations are low unless Delhi shows concrete intent.
If Ignored
-
Protests could spread to Kargil and Zanskar.
-
Tribal youth radicalization may rise.
-
International scrutiny could intensify, especially from environmental and human rights groups.
If Addressed
-
Statehood roadmap or Sixth Schedule inclusion could restore calm.
-
Delhi could gain goodwill by framing safeguards as a national security + cultural preservation measure.
Timeline: Ladakh’s Political Struggle (2019–2025)
-
2019: Article 370 revoked; Ladakh becomes UT.
-
2020: Galwan clash; Ladakh under spotlight.
-
2021: LAB and KDA formed.
-
2023: First joint LAB-KDA Leh march.
-
2024: Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike draws global attention.
-
2025: September violence in Leh — worst since UT creation.
What is the Sixth Schedule?
-
Part of the Indian Constitution (Articles 244 & 275).
-
Provides autonomy to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram.
-
Powers: land, forest, resources, cultural preservation.
-
Ladakh demands similar status, citing 90% tribal population.
Why Ladakh Matters to India’s Security
-
Borders both China (Tibet) and Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan).
-
Home to Siachen Glacier, world’s highest battlefield.
-
Key to India’s water systems fed by Himalayan glaciers.
Bottom-Line: A Battle for Identity and Dignity
The September 24 tragedy in Leh is more than a law-and-order problem. It is the cry of a people caught between geopolitics and survival.
For Delhi, Ladakh is a strategic frontier. For Ladakhis, it is home, heritage, and identity under siege.
The next moves by the Centre — whether to genuinely engage or to suppress — will decide if Ladakh remains a proud partner in India’s democratic union, or if disillusionment deepens in this Himalayan frontier.
