Ladakh’s town of Leh has been under severe curfew-like restrictions for the fourth day in a row as of September 27, 2025. The curfew was initially imposed following violent protests earlier in the week, which resulted in four fatalities and about seventy others injured. These demonstrations were orchestrated by calls for Ladakh’s full statehood and its being brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would extend special tribal rights and safeguards to the region. These protests were further galvanized following the arrest of well-known climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been a key figure in Ladakh’s environmental and political movements for years. The authorities held him responsible for provoking disturbances in speeches and invoking international protest movements like Nepal and Arab Spring. Wangchuk was detained under the strict National Security Act and later shifted to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan, which has received strong flak from his supporters and activists nationwide.
Normal life in Leh has ground to a halt ever since the curfew was imposed. Mobile internet services have been shut down, schools and colleges have been directed to close to avoid crowds that can lead to more unrest, and security forces such as the police, Central Reserve Police Force, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police have been deployed in strength, making intensive rounds to ensure restrictions are not breached. The authorities have reported that there have been no new incidents of violence over the last twenty-four hours. However, they are still maintaining the curfew in force as a precautionary measure to prevent any escalation. The local government justified the removal of Wangchuk from Ladakh because it was essential for upholding law and order in the greater public interest. But most local institutions, including the Leh Apex Body, have denounced the government’s actions, saying that it has used excessive force against protesters and overlooked the true desires of the people.
The ongoing curfew is evidence of the strained and uneasy peace prevailing in Leh, where anger had been simmering for months as a result of calls for constitutional protection and more autonomy. The uprising and the overbearing action of the authorities have brought national attention, raising questions about democratic freedoms, free expression, and the use of laws like the NSA against peaceful protesters. As the restrictions enter their fourth day, the residents continue to worry about when things will go back to normal, while the wider political debate about Ladakh’s status and rights increases.
