Former MLA, Councillor released after 7 months in jail in Leh clashes case

Two Congress leaders , including a former MLA, were released from Leh district jail on Saturday after spending nearly seven months in detention in connection with the September 2025 violence that claimed four lives and left several others injured.

Former Jammu and Kashmir MLA Deldan Namgyal and LAHDC Leh Councillor Smanla Dorje walked out of prison a day after being granted bail by the high court. Their release was marked by a traditional welcome from a large gathering of locals, led by members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB). Supporters raised slogans and took the leaders in a procession to a local Gonpa , where they offered prayers and expressed gratitude to the public and the Bar Association for their support during the detention period.

The two leaders were taken into custody following the September 24, 2025 clashes in Leh , which erupted amid heightened tensions over political and administrative demands in Ladakh. The unrest resulted in four fatalities and dozens of injuries, prompting authorities to impose strict security measures and detain several prominent voices linked to the agitation.

The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been at the forefront of negotiations with the Centre, demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule , which seeks to protect the region’s cultural and land rights. Both groups had repeatedly called for the release of detained leaders, arguing that their incarceration hindered meaningful dialogue.

The release of Namgyal and Dorje follows a similar move last month when noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was freed after the Union government revoked his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk had been detained shortly after the September violence under orders issued by the Leh district magistrate.

Officials said the issue of detentions had also been raised recently with Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena , who assured that the matter would be examined.

With the release of the two leaders, stakeholders in Ladakh are expected to intensify their engagement with the Centre as demands for greater autonomy and constitutional protections continue to shape the region’s political discourse.