Recent protests in Ladakh, demanding statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, have turned violent, prompting a response from the government. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has placed blame on activist Sonam Wangchuk for inciting the mob through what they describe as "provocative statements". The government maintains that police were forced to fire in self-defense after protesters set fire to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office and clashed with security forces, resulting in injuries and casualties.

According to the MHA, the unrest began around 11:30 am on September 24, 2025, when a mob, allegedly incited by Wangchuk's speeches, left the site of a hunger strike and attacked a political party office and a government building in Leh. The mob also set fire to these offices, attacked security personnel, and torched a police vehicle. Over 30 police and CRPF personnel were injured in the ensuing clashes, and public property was damaged. The government stated that police resorted to firing in self-defense amidst the escalating violence.

The MHA further noted that Wangchuk ended his hunger strike and left for his village in an ambulance "without making serious efforts to control the situation". The government has affirmed its commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Ladakh through constitutional safeguards. They have also urged the public to refrain from circulating old and inflammatory videos on media platforms.

Sonam Wangchuk, while appealing for peace, has expressed that the violence undermined the peaceful protest. He noted the participation of a younger generation in the protests and said that they were "not even afraid of bullets". Wangchuk also accused the government of instigating the violence by forcing the youth to resort to such measures.

The protests were organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), whose youth wing called for a shutdown after some of the activists involved in a 35-day hunger strike were hospitalized due to deteriorating health. The protesters are demanding statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the region. The Sixth Schedule provides for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) to govern tribal-majority areas.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, condemned the violence and stated that those responsible would face strict action. He also alleged that attempts had been made to incite people and compared the protests to those in Bangladesh and Nepal, suggesting a conspiracy. Curfew has been imposed across the Leh district.

Meanwhile, the BJP has accused a Congress councillor of inciting the mob, a claim that Wangchuk has denied. He stated that Congress does not have enough influence to mobilize the youth in Ladakh.

The government has highlighted its ongoing engagement with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance through a High-Powered Committee and various formal and informal meetings. They claim that these dialogues have yielded positive results, such as increased reservations for Ladakh Scheduled Tribes, women's reservations in hill councils, and the declaration of Bhoti and Purgi as official languages. The government also mentioned the commencement of recruitment for 1,800 jobs. A fresh round of talks between the MHA and Ladakh representatives is scheduled for October 6.