**Ladakh is Tense, and This is Bad News for India**
Ladakh, a cold desert at India’s northern tip, is currently witnessing tension — a development that poses challenges for India. This region is traversed by the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC), the unofficial border between India and China, and is surrounded by contested territories. To the east lies Aksai Chin, controlled by China but claimed by India, while to the north is Gilgit-Baltistan, administered by Pakistan.
Because of past conflicts with both Pakistan and China, Ladakh’s borders are highly sensitive. The last thing India needs in this delicate region is internal unrest — yet that is exactly what is unfolding now.
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### Recent Protests and Violence in Leh
On September 24, protests advocating for local rights turned violent in Leh, Ladakh’s largest town. An office of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was vandalized and set on fire amidst accusations that the party had made false promises. The situation escalated further when police opened fire, killing four protesters.
The police crackdown, coupled with claims that the protests were backed by Pakistan, has worsened the atmosphere. As of September 29, a curfew and mobile internet ban remain in place.
Adding to the tensions is the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk — a well-known educationist and environmentalist who won the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Wangchuk is one of Ladakh’s most prominent figures, partly because the character “Rancho” in the Bollywood hit *Three Idiots* was inspired by him, making him famous across India.
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### Public Anger and Eroded Trust
“The people are very angry with the authorities, and their trust in the administration has fallen sharply,” said Chering Dorjay Lakruk, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association and co-convenor of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), in an interview with *The Diplomat*.
Following the violence, police and paramilitary forces arrested dozens of individuals accused of vandalism and assaulting security personnel. In response, the Bar Association Leh decided to provide free legal defense to all accused and demanded a judicial inquiry under a magistrate’s supervision.
Mohd Shafi Lassu, President of the Bar Association Leh, expressed concerns that labeling the movement as “anti-national” and conducting indiscriminate arrests could further exacerbate the situation.
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### A Sense of Betrayal in Ladakh
Ladakh was formerly part of the Jammu & Kashmir state. In August 2019, the Modi government revoked Jammu & Kashmir’s special status, removed its statehood, and bifurcated it into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir (which retains a legislative assembly) and Ladakh (which does not). Ladakh is now directly governed by the central government via a Lieutenant Governor.
Unlike Jammu & Kashmir, which has witnessed decades of insurgency and unrest, Ladakh remained relatively peaceful. It comprises two districts — Leh, with a Buddhist majority, and Kargil, with a Muslim majority. Initially, people in Leh welcomed the separation from Jammu & Kashmir, but soon realized that the removal of Articles 370 and 35A allowed outsiders and large corporations to penetrate and exploit local resources.
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### The Four-point Demand
Since 2021, leaders from both Leh and Kargil have jointly demanded a four-point agenda:
1. Statehood for Ladakh
2. Protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
3. Establishment of a Public Service Commission (PSC) for local job reservations
4. An additional parliamentary seat for Ladakh
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### Why Does the Sixth Schedule Matter?
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram as autonomous regions. It grants protection of tribal rights, local self-rule through special councils, cultural preservation, and control over land and resources.
These autonomous councils can levy taxes, establish schools, markets, and infrastructure — enabling development that respects local traditions and shields communities from exploitative external forces.
Ladakhi leaders fear that without such safeguards, large corporations will seize their lands. The establishment of large solar park projects in Ladakh has only intensified these concerns.
Prior to the 2019 parliamentary elections, the BJP promised to grant Ladakh Sixth Schedule status — a commitment that helped the party win the region with a clear majority. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), an independent body, also supported this demand.
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### Delay and Alternate Proposals
However, the Modi government delayed action on Sixth Schedule status. In January 2021, Home Minister Amit Shah asked a Ladakh team to remain open to alternative constitutional safeguards. Subsequently, the BJP shifted their stance to proposing protections akin to those under the Sixth Schedule, rather than granting the status outright.
This ambiguity led to repeated protests in Ladakh, including hunger strikes and marches over the past four years.
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### The Latest Protests and Hunger Strike
The most recent protests began on September 10, when Sonam Wangchuk and 14 others, including seven former Indian Army soldiers, commenced a 35-day hunger strike demanding their four-point agenda. The protest attracted significant local support.
On September 23, after two elderly protesters on a 13-day hunger strike were hospitalized, the Indian National Congress warned the government that failing to respond could worsen the situation.
The following day, violence erupted as some protesters attacked the BJP’s Ladakh office. Senior BJP leaders from outside Ladakh blamed the central government for the unrest, while most local leaders condemned the violence and police actions.
In protest against the police firing and violence, Wangchuk ended his fast and left the protest site.
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### Arrest of Sonam Wangchuk and Government Response
On September 26, the government arrested Sonam Wangchuk, transferred him out of Ladakh, and reportedly incarcerated him in Jodhpur under the National Security Act (NSA). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also initiated a probe into Wangchuk’s organization, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), and government revoked its license to receive foreign funding.
Government officials downplayed the hunger strike, stating that the issues raised by Wangchuk were already being addressed through ongoing talks with Ladakhi representatives. They alleged that Wangchuk ignored multiple requests to end his fast and accused him of misleading the public by invoking references to “Arab Spring”-style protests and youth movements in Nepal.
Police further claimed that the Wangchuk-led protests had links to Pakistan, citing communications with a recently arrested Pakistani national and Wangchuk’s participation in an event hosted by *The Dawn*, a major Pakistani newspaper, as evidence.
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### Denial of Allegations and Rising Tensions
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) strongly rejected these allegations. “These claims are false. We condemn the attempt by some in the administration, politicians, and media to brand our peaceful protests on legitimate demands as ‘anti-national’,” said Sajjad Kargili of the KDA.
On September 29, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) chairman, Thupstan Chhewang, announced a boycott of talks with the central government until normalcy is restored in Ladakh. Their demands include an investigation into the police firing, withdrawal of cases against protesters, and the release of those detained. The KDA has expressed support for this stance.
Originally, the central government had scheduled talks with a Ladakhi delegation on October 6; however, given the current situation, the meeting’s status remains uncertain.
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### Conclusion
Ladakh, a region critical for India’s security due to its strategic location bordering China and Pakistan, is grappling with internal unrest fueled by unmet local demands and fears of resource exploitation. The government’s handling of protests, coupled with allegations of anti-national activities, has deepened mistrust among locals.
Addressing Ladakh’s concerns with sensitivity and urgency is essential to restore peace and prevent escalation in this geopolitically sensitive area.
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*The author is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru and Director of ADD Engineering Components, India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com*
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-beyond-the-himalayas-ladakh-s-cry-for-justice-3182313
