TL;DR: Four protesters died in Leh, Ladakh, after clashes with police during demonstrations demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards. Violence marks the first deadly escalation in the ongoing movement.
What Happened
- Four protesters were killed and many injured in violent clashes with police in Leh, Ladakh, on Wednesday, Sept 24, 2025, according to unnamed officials cited by PTI.
- Police opened fire after protesters attacked a BJP office, torched police vehicles, and clashed with security personnel during a complete shutdown called by statehood agitators.
- This is the first incident of violence since the beginning of the Ladakh statehood movement.
- The clashes occurred just days before October 6 talks between the Leh Apex Body and the central government.
Background
- Protesters are demanding:
- Statehood for Ladakh.
- Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for tribal rights protection.
- A separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh.
- Two parliamentary seats (currently only one exists).
- Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for two weeks, amplifying the demands.
Context
- Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, after Article 370 was abrogated and J&K was bifurcated.
- Initial support for UT status turned into discontent over lack of local representation, job insecurity, and fears of losing land and cultural protections.
- A joint front of Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, now leads the movement.
Who Said What
- A leader present at earlier talks with Home Minister Amit Shah told NDTV:
"During the meeting, the Home Minister told us that he had made a mistake by carving out Ladakh as a separate Union Territory. He also rejected our demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedule."