30 Security Personnel Injured, Mob Attacks Offices, Torches Vehicles Amid Hunger Strike; HPC Dialogue Yields Key Gains for Ladakh’s Tribal Reservations, Women Representation, and Official Language Recognition
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar:DD, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has held provocative speeches by Sonam Wangchuk was responsible for the recent unrest in Leh, which left over 30 police and CRPF personnel injured.
MHA in a statement a hunger strike was started by Sonam Wangchuk on 10-09-2025 stating the demand of 6th 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 the same issues.
A series of meetings were held with them through the formal channel of the High-Powered Committee as well as the Sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with leaders.
The statement reads, 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. However, certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made under HPC has been trying to sabotage the dialogue process.
The next meeting of High-Powered Committee has been scheduled on 6th October while meetings are also planned on 25th and 26th September with the leaders from Ladakh, it reads.
The demands on which Wangchuk was on hunger strike are an integral part of the discussion in HPC.
Inspite 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.
The statement reads, On 24th 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, it reads.
Barring unfortunate incidents that happened early in the day, the situation is brought under control by 4PM.
It is clear that the mob was incited by 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, it reads.
The Government stands committed to the aspiration of people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards. It is also requested that the people should not circulate the old and provocative videos in the media and social media, statement reads. (KNC)
