Sonam Wangchuk will lead a symbolic 20-km march in Leh on September 23 to highlight Ladakh’s demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is set to lead a symbolic 20-kilometre march in Leh on September 23, highlighting demands for statehood, constitutional safeguards and greater democratic representation for Ladakh.
Organisers had initially planned a longer march beginning in Kargil and concluding in Leh on September 24. However, falling temperatures and increasingly cold nights prompted them to replace it with a shorter, one-day event.
Wangchuk said the march would support efforts to protect Ladakh’s culture, fragile environment and democratic rights. A remembrance programme is also planned for September 24.
March Marks Anniversary of Leh Protest Deaths
The march comes ahead of the first anniversary of the deaths of four civilians during protests in Leh on September 24, 2025.
The demonstration had been organised in support of statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Violence broke out during the protest, after which police opened fire. Four people were killed and 44 others were injured, according to The Indian Express.
September 24 will be observed as “Shaheed Diwas” in memory of those who died. A judicial inquiry was conducted into the incident, although its findings had not been made public at the time of the report.
The Ladakh administration has announced ₹15 lakh in compensation for each of the four bereaved families. It has also sanctioned ₹3 lakh for every person who suffered major injuries and ₹1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
What Ladakh’s Groups Are Demanding
Political and civil-society organisations in Ladakh have been seeking statehood and safeguards under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule. Supporters say stronger protections are required to preserve the region’s tribal identity, land, employment opportunities and environmentally sensitive landscape.
They have also called for meaningful local participation in decisions affecting development and natural resources.
Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019 following the reorganisation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its representatives have since held multiple rounds of discussions with the Union government, but several central demands remain unresolved.
The shortened march is intended to keep those issues in public focus while serving as a peaceful tribute to the people who died during the previous year’s protests.
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