Ladakh in Turmoil: Curfew Imposed Amid Statehood Protests

Tue Nov 11 2025 02:22:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Violent protests over statehood in Ladakh lead to curfew as the government blames activists for unrest. Tensions escalate with conflicting claims from protesters and authorities.

A curfew has been imposed in Leh, Ladakh, following violent clashes between protesters and police amid demands for statehood. The unrest has left at least four people dead and dozens injured, with local activists alleging that the ruling government failed to address their political and economic concerns since the region lost its semi-autonomy in 2019. Prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk has been identified by authorities as a provocateur, a claim he denies, asserting that widespread frustration, particularly among youth, fueled the protests.

Indian security forces have imposed a curfew in Leh, the capital of the Himalayan region of Ladakh, after at least four people were killed in violent clashes between police and protesters demanding statehood for the federal territory.

Dozens were also injured, and an office of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was set on fire in the unrest.

The government blamed activist Sonam Wangchuk, who's been leading protests, for fomenting violence, a claim he denies.

A mountainous desert home to a Muslim-Buddhist population, Ladakh lost its semi-autonomy in 2019 when the BJP government split it from the former Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, imposing direct rule on both.

The Leh region—where the violence broke out—is sandwiched between India, China, and Pakistan. It is dominated by the Buddhist community, which for decades has demanded a separate region for its people. Meanwhile, the Muslim-majority Kargil district wants to be integrated with Indian-administered Kashmir.

Since 2019, both communities have united in demanding the restoration of statehood, along with greater autonomy that would grant job quotas.

It's unclear what sparked the recent violence—protests have been taking place intermittently in the region for months.

In a late-night statement, India's federal home ministry blamed Mr. Wangchuk for the unrest, alleging he had incited the mob with provocative statements.

The statement noted that he [Mr. Wangchuk] continued with the hunger strike and misled the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protests and references to Gen-Z protests in Nepal.

It asserted that protesters attacked the BJP's local office, set fire to the building, and torched a police vehicle, injuring 30 police personnel.

In self-defence, police had to resort to firing, resulting in casualties.

Mr. Wangchuk, on the other hand, called off a hunger strike and appealed for calm, emphasizing that violence only damages our cause and attributing the unrest to growing frustrations among unemployed youth.

The federal government denies claims of failing the local populace, arguing that it has engaged in talks with local leaders since 2023 and achieved phenomenal results. The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh stated that an investigation into the violence has been initiated and that there are ongoing discussions planned within the coming days to address ongoing issues.

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