Leh today. Photo source: @mohitlaws|X
Clashes in Leh Highlight Ladakh’s Political and Youth Strains
Leh: The streets of Leh, usually animated with festival-goers and tourists, erupted into violent clashes on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, as hundreds of protesters, mostly students and young residents, took to the roads demanding full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
By evening, additional paramilitary units had restored relative calm, but tensions remained. Residents expressed disappointment at national media coverage, which largely focused on the violence rather than the preceding weeks of peaceful hunger strikes. With talks scheduled with the Union Home Ministry on October 6, 2025, and the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections approaching, the situation in Ladakh remains delicate, reflecting the intersection of youth activism, long-standing local grievances, national political manoeuvring, and strategic imperatives.
The unrest, organised by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in solidarity with ongoing hunger strikes, escalated into confrontations with police and paramilitary forces. A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office was set ablaze, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle was damaged, and other vehicles were vandalised, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to curb public gatherings.
Eyewitnesses reported that several protesters and at least one security personnel were injured, though there were no confirmed fatalities. Two participants in ongoing hunger strikes had been hospitalised before Wednesday, an event that reportedly intensified the protests. Police deployed batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, some of whom engaged in stone-pelting. Official figures for injuries or participant numbers were not released, leaving authorities unable to provide a verified headcount at the time of reporting.
To understand the scale and significance of the unrest, one must trace Ladakh’s political trajectory. In 1989, the Ladakh Union Territory Front first mobilised to demand autonomy, greater representation, and control over local affairs. Three decades later, the 2019 reorganisation of the region into a Union Territory without a legislative assembly sparked widespread discontent, as residents perceived a loss of political agency. In 2020, the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, representing Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil respectively, formed a unified front to advocate for constitutional safeguards and statehood, bridging historical divides to present a consolidated local voice. The period from 2024 to 2025 witnessed a series of hunger strikes and protests, including a personal 15-day fast by climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, which highlighted escalating frustration over unmet demands for political recognition, youth unemployment, and environmental protections.
Wangchuk, who ended his fast amidst the clashes, directly appealed to demonstrators through a video message, urging calm and non-violence. “I urge the youth not to take this path of violence. It will only damage our cause and our credibility. Ladakh’s struggle is for dignity, for identity, for the environment, and for the future. None of that can be secured through destruction. Please, abandon this nonsense and return to peaceful protest,” he said, emphasising the strategic and moral objectives of the movement. At the same time, he framed the unrest as a “Gen Z revolution,” attributing it to the anger and restiveness of young people who have been unemployed for years and lack democratic platforms to voice their concerns. “Thousands of youths came to the streets. But this was the anger of the youths, a Gen Z revolution, which led them to the streets. They have been unemployed for the last five years. They (the government) are not giving security to Ladakh. There’s no democratic platform here today. The Sixth Schedule, which was announced and promised, hasn’t been heeded,” Wangchuk said, underscoring that the protests stemmed from genuine local grievances rather than external manipulation.
The demands underpinning the unrest have remained remarkably consistent: full statehood with a legislature, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule to grant autonomous powers over land, forests, and tribal affairs, separate Lok Sabha representation for Leh and Kargil, and legal safeguards for local employment and land rights. Many protesters contend that the current arrangement, with a single Lok Sabha member and no legislative assembly, leaves Ladakh exposed to administrative apathy, central overreach, and environmental threats associated with infrastructure, tourism, and mining projects. Residents have expressed a profound sense of betrayal, noting that promises made during the 2019 reorganisation were not fulfilled.
‘Gen Z Leads Leh Unrest’
Political dynamics around the protests have been equally complex. The BJP, which governs the Union Territory and holds a majority in the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council, condemned the violence as the work of “fringe elements” while reiterating its commitment to dialogue with local representatives. Opposition parties, including the National Conference and Congress, criticised the handling of Ladakh since 2019 and blamed administrative delays for escalating tensions. In addition, several BJP leaders publicly linked the unrest to statements by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that his outreach to Gen Z and calls for youth activism may have encouraged demonstrations.
This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward.
He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council.
Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been… pic.twitter.com/o2WHdcCIuC
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 24, 2025
BJP Leaders such as Anurag Thakur and Amit Malviya cited social media posts and images of Congress-affiliated individuals participating in the protests, warning of a “Nepal-style” scenario, while asserting that such influence was partly responsible for the escalation. No independent verification of these claims has emerged, yet the allegations highlight how local unrest has become enmeshed in the broader national political debate.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India has been actively engaged with the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance through a High-Powered Committee and sub-committees, as well as informal channels, and points to achievements such as increasing Scheduled Tribe reservations from 45 to 84 per cent, one-third women’s reservations in the councils, recognition of Bhoti and Purgi as official languages, and commencement of recruitment for 1,800 posts.
The Ministry said the demands on which Wangchuk was fasting remain integral to the ongoing dialogue, with further meetings scheduled on September 25–26 and October 6. However, it asserted that “politically motivated individuals” attempted to sabotage the process, and directly blamed Wangchuk for making “provocative” references to Arab Spring-style protests and Gen Z uprisings in Nepal.
The MHA further claimed that his speeches instigated a mob which attacked the BJP office and the office of the CEC Leh, set buildings and vehicles on fire, and assaulted police, leaving more than 30 police and CRPF personnel injured. In self-defence, police opened fire, with “some casualties” reported. The Ministry noted that Wangchuk broke his fast amid the violence and departed for his village, alleging he failed to take serious steps to restrain protesters.
Voices from the ground illustrate the depth of frustration and resolve in the community. A young protester in Leh said, “We are not just fighting for statehood; we are fighting for our identity, our land, and our future. The current system is not working for us.” An elder from Kargil added, “Our ancestors fought for our rights, and we continue that struggle today. We stand united with our brothers and sisters in Leh.” A local teacher observed, “The youth are leading this movement because they see no future under the current arrangement. They are demanding what is rightfully theirs.”
Economic and ecological stakes have amplified the unrest. Graduate unemployment in Ladakh exceeds 25 per cent, leaving many young residents feeling disenfranchised and disillusioned. Activists have repeatedly raised alarms about land acquisitions, infrastructure projects, and tourism initiatives that threaten fragile ecosystems.
Ladakh’s strategic location along the Line of Actual Control with China and its proximity to Pakistan-administered territory further complicates governance. While New Delhi prioritises security and infrastructure development, local communities emphasise participatory decision-making and environmental stewardship, creating competing pressures in a geopolitically sensitive region. The protests underscore not only the impatience of a new generation seeking a voice but also the enduring struggle of a region whose unique identity, fragile environment, and strategic significance continue to shape its unfolding political landscape.
– global bihari bureau
