Sonam Wangchuk demands independent judicial inquiry into civilian deaths in Leh: lawyer

Detained engineer-turned-activist Sonam Wangchuk has appealed for an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four civilians in the September 24 protests, according to a letter released from the Jodhpur jail on Sunday (October 5, 2025).  

“My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested. There should be an independent judicial Inquiry into the killing of our four people and, unless that is done, I am prepared to stay in jail,” Mr. Wangchuk said, in the purported letter from the jail.

The contents of the letter were shared by advocate Mustafa Haji, a legal adviser to the Leh Apex Body (LAB) that is spearheading an agitation over the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule (ST) for the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. Mr. Haji met the activist in the jail on October 4.  

In the letter released online, Mr. Wangchuk also expressed his support to the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the people of Ladakh “in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood”. “Whatever actions LAB takes in the interest of Ladakh, I am with them , wholeheartedly,” the activist said.

He also appealed to people “to keep peace and unity and continue with our struggle peacefully- in the true Gandhian way of non-violence”.

He informed the lawyer and his brother, Tsetan Dorjey Ley, who also met him in the jail, that he was “doing well, both physically and mentally and thank everyone for their concern and prayers”. 

Mr. Wangchuk, who launched a hunger strike on September 10 to press for the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule, was detained on September 26, two days after a protest by his supporters resulted in clashes with security forces, which left four civilians dead and around 90 injured.