Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on September 24 said he feared he could be killed in an “encounter” for continuing to speak against the government, as Ladakh marked the first anniversary of the September 24, 2025 violence in Leh that left four people dead.
Addressing a gathering during the anniversary observance, Wangchuk demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation, holding him politically responsible for the deaths, and called for the findings of the judicial inquiry into the violence to be made public.
He also warned that a “people’s tribunal” could be constituted if the report is not released. The Centre, however, has maintained that the 2025 unrest followed a serious law-and-order breakdown and has said the issues concerning Ladakh should be addressed through dialogue.
The latest developments include ₹1.52 crore in compensation sanctioned by the Ladakh administration for the four deceased and injured people, while cases against 20 people accused in connection with the violence have reportedly been withdrawn.
Wangchuk Raises Safety Concerns
Speaking in Leh on the first anniversary of the violence, Wangchuk said he had received warnings about threats to his life and feared he could be subjected to an “encounter”.
“They have put me in jail. Now there is even a possibility that I could be encountered somewhere,” he said, adding that he was prepared to face any outcome if it helped draw national attention to Ladakh’s situation.
His remarks came months after the Centre revoked his detention under the National Security Act in March 2026. Wangchuk had been detained on September 26, 2025, two days after the violence, with the Ministry of Home Affairs saying the detention was ordered to maintain public order.
When revoking it, the Centre said it wanted to create an atmosphere of “peace, stability and mutual trust” and facilitate constructive dialogue with stakeholders in Ladakh. Wangchuk, meanwhile, demanded accountability for the deaths and alleged that security personnel had used automatic weapons, including AK-47s, against protesters.
He also alleged attempts were made to create communal tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Ladakh. These claims remain allegations and have not been established by the judicial inquiry, whose findings have not yet been made public.
One Year After Leh Violence
The September 24, 2025 violence followed protests over demands including statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. The situation escalated into clashes, after which police firing resulted in the deaths of four people.
The Union Home Ministry subsequently ordered a judicial inquiry headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to examine the circumstances leading to the law-and-order situation, the police action and the deaths.
The Centre’s account of the violence has differed from Wangchuk’s. In a statement issued on September 24, 2025, the Home Ministry said protesters had attacked a political party office and a government office, set buildings and a police vehicle on fire and attacked police and CRPF personnel.
It said more than 30 security personnel were injured and that firing followed in self-defence. Ladakh officials also condemned the stone-pelting and arson at the time, while appealing for peace and dialogue. The judicial inquiry was subsequently opened to public submissions, with officials, police personnel and other witnesses being examined.
One year later, however, the report has not been publicly released. Meanwhile, the administration has sanctioned ₹15 lakh each for the families of the four deceased, ₹3 lakh for 24 people with major injuries and ₹1 lakh for 20 people with minor injuries, taking the total compensation commitment to ₹1.52 crore.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The developments in Ladakh underline why accountability, transparency and dialogue matter when protests over political and constitutional demands result in loss of life. Wangchuk’s allegations about the police action and his concerns about his own safety deserve to be considered alongside the Centre and administration’s account of the events, rather than being treated as established facts before the judicial inquiry reaches its conclusions.
At the same time, the continued absence of a publicly available inquiry report has left important questions surrounding the September 2025 violence unresolved. The government has said that Ladakh’s concerns should be addressed through constructive engagement and dialogue, while Wangchuk and other campaigners continue to demand stronger constitutional safeguards, statehood and accountability.
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