Curfew in Leh continues after Violence, Sonam Wangchuk jailed under NSA amid Ladakh statehood unrest

Curfew remained in force for the fourth consecutive day in Leh on Saturday, as police and paramilitary forces intensified patrolling in the aftermath of violent protests over Ladakh’s statehood demand and the subsequent detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).

The unrest began on September 24 , when a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) , a key group pressing for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, spiraled into violence. The BJP office in Leh was set ablaze, public property was damaged, and clashes left four people dead and nearly 90 injured. More than 50 people have since been detained, with police raids ongoing to track down alleged instigators, including a local councillor.

Officials said Lt. Governor Kavinder Gupta will soon chair a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhavan, after which a decision on relaxing the curfew will be taken. Meanwhile, restrictions under prohibitory orders remain in place across Ladakh, including in Kargil.

In a strongly worded statement, the Ladakh administration accused Wangchuk of making “provocative speeches” that referenced the Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring , claiming his actions misled the public and triggered the September 24 violence. “Despite clear communication on the government’s willingness to hold dialogue, Mr. Wangchuk pursued his hunger strike and delivered speeches that incited unrest,” the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) said.

Wangchuk, who ended his hunger strike after the violence broke out, was moved to Jodhpur Central Jail on Friday night. The administration justified his detention under the NSA, calling it necessary “to prevent further disruption to public order.”

The episode has triggered political backlash , with critics calling the arrest of the globally respected innovator and activist a suppression of dissent. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains condemned the move as “a direct attack on democracy,” arguing that Wangchuk is “the voice of Ladakh, not a criminal.”

Ladakh, carved out as a Union Territory in 2019, has witnessed growing discontent over its lack of legislative powers. Protesters insist that statehood and Sixth Schedule protections are essential to safeguard the region’s fragile ecology, tribal identity, and land rights. ,,..The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides special autonomy to tribal areas, currently in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura, through Autonomous District Councils with powers over land, culture, resources, and local governance. It safeguards tribal identity by restricting land transfer to non-tribals and giving councils authority to frame laws on customs, agriculture, and village administration. Councils also have limited financial and judicial powers, including taxation and local courts, with central grants under Article 275. In Ladakh, where over 95% of the population is tribal, people demand Sixth Schedule protections to preserve land rights, ecology, and cultural identity. The Centre, however, resists this, citing Ladakh’s strategic location near China and Pakistan, arguing that direct central control is vital for stability and security.