On 24 SEP 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a press release regarding the situation in Ladakh. A hunger strike led by Sh Sonam Wangchuk demanding the 6th schedule and statehood for Ladakh began on 10-09-2025. The Government of India has been engaged with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance through a High-Powered Committee, Sub-committees, and informal meetings. The dialogue has increased reservations for Ladakh's scheduled tribe from 45% to 84%, provided 1/3 women reservations in councils, declared Bhoti and Purgi as official languages, and commenced recruitment for 1800 posts. Certain individuals have been attempting to sabotage the dialogue process. The next High-Powered Committee meeting is scheduled for October 6th, with additional meetings planned for September 25th and 26th with Ladakh leaders. Mr. Wangchuk's demands are part of the HPC discussion, but he continues his hunger strike, misleading people with provocative statements. On September 24th, at 11:30 AM, a mob, incited by Wangchuk's speeches, attacked a political party office and a Government office, setting offices on fire, attacking security personnel, and torching a police vehicle, injuring over 30 police/CRPF personnel. Police fired in self-defense, resulting in casualties. The situation was brought under control by 4 PM. The government believes the mob was incited by Shri Sonam Wangchuk. He broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance. The Government is committed to providing constitutional safeguards to the people of Ladakh and requests that people not circulate old and provocative videos in the media. Release ID: 2170941.
Key Entities Referenced
Ladakh: Location where the events described in the press release are occurring.
High-Powered Committee: A committee engaged in dialogue and negotiations related to issues in Ladakh.
Sonam Wangchuk: Individual involved in a hunger strike related to demands of schedule and statehood for Ladakh.
Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance: Organization involved in discussions with the government related to issues in Ladakh.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Press Release on Ladakh
Posted On: 24 SEP 2025 10:03PM by PIB Delhi
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1. A hunger strike was started by Sh Sonam Wangchuk on 10-09-2025 stating the demand of 6 schedule
and statehood for Ladakh. It is well known that Government of India has been actively engaged with
Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance on same issues. Series of meetings were held with
them through formal channel of High-Powered Committee as well as Sub-committee and multiple
informal meetings with leaders.
2. The process of dialogue through this mechanism has yielded phenomenal results by increasing
reservations for Ladakh scheduled tribe from 45% to 84%, providing 1/3 women reservations in the
councils and declaring Bhoti and Purgi as official languages. With this process for recruitment of 1800
posts was also commenced.
3. However, certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made under HPC
has been trying to sabotage the dialogue process.
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4. The next meeting of High-Powered Committee has been scheduled on 6 October while meetings are
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also planned on 25 and 26 September with the leaders from Ladakh.
5. The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC.
In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike he continued with the hunger strike and
misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen
Z protests in Nepal.
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6. On 24 September, at around 11.30 am, a mob instigated by his provocative speeches left the venue of
the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as Government office of the CEC Leh.
They also put these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched police vehicle. The
unruly mob attacked the police personnel in which more than 30 police/CRPF personnel were injured.
The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence,
police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported.
7. Barring unfortunate incidents that happened early in the day, the situation is brought under
control by 4PM.
8. It is clear that the mob was incited by Shri Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements.
Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an
ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation.
9. The Government stands committed to the aspiration of people of Ladakh by providing adequate
constitutional safeguards.
10. It is also requested that the people should not circulate the old and provocative videos in the
media and social media.
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RK / VV / RR / PS
(Release ID: 2170941)