Explainer: Why unrest continues to simmer in Ladakh
Statehood, Sixth Schedule, public service commission — the demands may not be new, but the death of 4 protesters has infused new vigour
Updated At : 07:02 AM Oct 04, 2025 IST
The grant of UT status for Ladakh, without a legislature, came as a surprise for people. They felt it had diminished the powers of the already existing Hill Councils, and that they had been deprived of a political voice.. AP/PTI
A Union Territory carved out of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of the state’s special status and its bifurcation into UTs in 2019, Ladakh has been on the boil over its demand for statehood and tribal status under the Sixth Schedule. On September 24, four civilians were killed when the police and paramilitary forces opened fire on protesters who turned violent and set the BJP office in Leh on fire. The administration launched a crackdown and detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a fast, under the National Security Act, accusing him of instigating the protests.
