Restrictions thwart Leh Apex Body’s ‘silent march’ in Leh, street protest held in Kargil

The Ladakh administration on Saturday (October 18, 2025) erected barricades, imposed restrictions, and restrained the movement of members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), thwarting a scheduled “peaceful march” held to express solidarity with the deaths that occurred during the September 24 protests.

Meanwhile, hundreds of locals held a protest march in Kargil in spite of the restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

“Barricades were set up in the morning on one side of my residence, and police deployment on the other. The Leh administration’s move to impose restrictions was illegal and unfortunate,” Chering Dorjay Lakruk, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association president, and co-chairperson of the Ladakh Apex Body, said. 

The Ladakh administration on Friday evening announced the reimposition of prohibitory restrictions under Section 163, banning the assembly of more than four persons, “following reports of potential threats to public peace and order in the area”. The administration’s move came after the Ladakh Apex Body, spearheading the agitation over demands of Statehood and inclusion in the the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, had called for a “peaceful march” and a blackout in the evening in Leh “to express solidarity with the four locals who were killed in the September 24 violence in Leh”.

“We had called for a peaceful march. It was not allowed. However, members of the Ladakh Apex Body did a symbolic march up to the Shanti Stupa from Leh. No locals could join it because of restrictions,” Mr. Lakruk said.

The Ladakh Apex Body expressed certain concerns over the Judicial Commission constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), headed by former Supreme Court Justice (retd.) B. S. Chauhan.

“We welcome the judicial inquiry. However, we fear the First Information Report number 144 mentioned in it is aimed at the protesters. Moreover, there is no member from Ladakh in the Judicial Commission. The absence of a Ladakhi member will not instil the same confidence. There should be Ladakhi members in the Commission for a fair and transparent inquiry,” the Ladakh Apex Body leader said.

Mr. Lakruk said the Ladakh Apex Body was ready for “meaningful talks” with the Centre on the demands pertaining to Statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.

Kargil march

Meanwhile, in Kargil town, hundreds of locals and members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of religious and political organisations, held a peaceful “silent march” in Kargil district and other parts, which include Drass, Sankoo, Tai Suru, Shargole, and Zanskar. Protesters, carrying placards, were seen wearing black bands and masking their mouths with black cloth.

“We’ve been made voiceless, and democracy is being denied. We will keep raising our voice for Statehood and [inclusion in the] Sixth Schedule, and never forget the brutal attack in Leh, and arrests of activists, including Sonam Wangchuk,” Sajjad Kargili, a member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, said.

Mr. Kargili demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry into the September 24 incident, and compensation for the deceased and injured. “We also demand the immediate release of all detainees, including Mr. Wangchuk,” Mr. Kargili said.

Ladakh witnessed violent street protests on September 24 over the demands of Statehood, and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. Activists, including Mr. Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike since September 10, were detained on September 26, two days after the violence left four civilians dead. Ladakh was made a Union Territory in 2019, and since then, local bodies have been demanding Statehood, the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule list, an additional Lok Sabha seat, and a Public Service Commission.