Situation remained tense in curfew-bound Leh town of Ladakh on Thursday (September 25, 2025) as the bodies of four locals, who died during violent protests, were handed to the families for last rites in the town. Dozens of locals were detained in a crackdown on those suspected to have participated in the street protests on Wednesday (September 25, 2025).

The prominent Buddhist group, Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), was engaged by the Leh administration to perform the last rites of the four locals. “The bodies were handed over to the families. As per the family wish, all the four, who belong to different villages, will be created in Leh with all respect,” Chering Dorjey Lakrook, president of the LBA and also co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), said.

Violent clashes broke out at the BJP office and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh (LAHDC) on Wednesday (September 24, 2025), leaving scores injured. “One seriously injured, with bullet injuries in a lung, will be shifted to Delhi for specialised treatment,“ Mr. Lakrook said.

Extra deployments were made across Leh town. Security forces’ vehicles with speakers mounted on them kept warning locals from venturing out of their houses. 

Protests were held on the 15th day of the three-week hunger strike announced by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters. The hunger strike was being held to press the Centre to prepone Ladakh-Delhi dialogue over the demands of Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.

A senior official said the protesters, beside the BJP office, had also managed to barge into the building of the LAHDC-Leh and set the central secretariat on fire.

Dozens of locals were detained for questioning by the security agencies in a crackdown launched against protesters. Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has warned that those who resorted to violence “will not be spared”. 

Mr. Gupta chaired a high-level security review meeting in Leh and assessed the situation. A Raj Bhawan spokesman said Mr. Gupta underlined the need for heightened vigilance, stronger inter-agency coordination, and proactive steps to ensure peace, security, and public order across the Union Territory.

The District Magistrate, Leh, has announced the closure of all educational institutions across Leh district for two days from September 26, “in view of the prevailing situation”.

In Kargil, another major town of Ladakh, a shutdown was observed by locals. All shops, offices and educational institutes remained closed in Kargil to express “solidarity with Leh and their demands”. The shutdown call was issued by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), an amalgam of social, political and religious organisations. 

“Instead of handling the protest peacefully, the protestors were shot at when the protest turned violent. Instead of sympathising with people, witch hunting is being done,” Asger Ali Karbalai, co-chairman of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which held a press conference on Leh violence, said.

Ladakh Member of Parliament Haji Hanifa sought an investigation into the violence that erupted on Wednesday in Leh. “We demand an investigation into the circumstances that resulted in loss of civilian lives. We are of the opinion that extreme force should not have been used against a population widely known as peace-loving people. Whether bullets or pellets were fired, the incident requires an investigation. Action should be taken against those who resorted to force,” Mr. Hanifa said.

The MP also condemned the arson that took place during protests. “The KDA and the LAB always propounded peaceful protests. We understand the strategic location of Ladakh and the importance of peace here. It’s unfortunate that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) delayed the talks and fuelled the speculation of ignoring the demands of Ladakh,” MP Hanifa said.

Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019 from the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, locals have been demanding special rights under Sixth Schedule and Statehood.