LAB, KDA protests day after Wangchuk’s release
Two days after the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the twin towns of Leh and Kargil witnessed peaceful protests to press the Central government to resume talks and address long-standing demands for full statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
The protests, called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), saw thousands of residents taking to the streets despite the recent revocation of Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA). Wangchuk, who had been held for nearly six months following violent clashes in Leh in September 2025, was freed on March 14 after the Ministry of Home Affairs withdrew the order, citing efforts to foster peace and dialogue in the Union Territory.
It was the first major rally by LAB since violence had erupted during protests in September, prompting a clampdown by authorities.
The LAB and KDA had issued a bandh call urging the centre to resume the next round of talks, as promised during the High-Powered Committee meeting. The last round of talks was held on February 4. During the meeting, which was the first since last year’s clashes, both groups had demanded that Wangchuk be freed and 70 other detainees be released unconditionally.
The Director General of Police of Ladakh, Mukesh Singh, visited the rally site at Singay Namgyal Chowk in Leh to take stock of the security arrangements, with additional police and security personnel deployed across the town to maintain law and order.
Led by LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay, the protesters started from the Singay Namgyal Chowk and marched to Leh polo ground with participants, including a sizeable number of women, chanting slogans in support of the demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
A similar rally was also held in Kargil town, where KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbali, Member of Parliament Haneefa Jan and prominent activist and KDA member Sajjad Kargilli addressed the gathering. They reiterated the demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion, besides seeking the release of two jailed activists and the revocation of cases in connection with last year’s violence in Leh.
Talking to reporters in Leh, Dorjay thanked the people for turning up in large numbers for the rally despite the barricading of roads and imposition of restrictions by the administration.
“I would like to congratulate the people of Ladakh for maintaining complete peace despite strong provocation,” the LAB leader said, terming the rally a “big success”.
