Security restrictions imposed in Ladakh after deadly clashes

Authorities in India imposed security restrictions in the remote Ladakh region on Thursday, one day after four people were killed and dozens injured when police clashed with hundreds of protesters seeking greater autonomy. In Leh and Kargil districts, officials banned assemblies of more than five people as thousands of security personnel patrolled streets and most shops remained shut.

Witnesses described Wednesday's violence in Leh as police fired bullets and used tear gas to disperse crowds that hurled stones and set fire to vehicles and government offices, including the local Bharatiya Janata Party office. Police and residents said four people died and dozens were injured in the clashes that saw protesters battle with officers in what witnesses described as the worst street violence in the region in years. Hundreds of police and paramilitary troops remained deployed on Thursday, reinforcing roadblocks and patrolling commercial districts as businesses stayed closed under the new curbs.

Ladakh sits at the crossroads of India, Pakistan and China. It was separated from Indian-controlled Kashmir in 2019 when New Delhi stripped the region of statehood and semi-autonomy. While Kashmir had years of crackdowns and new laws, demands for political rights in Ladakh have grown in recent years, with protesters seeking statehood and constitutional provisions to gain autonomy over land and agriculture decisions. The protests Wednesday were sparked by a local group’s call for a strike after two residents collapsed while participating in a hunger strike attended by more than a dozen residents pressing statehood demands.

The government, in a statement released Wednesday, attributed much of the violence to provocative speeches by Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist who had led the hunger strike since Sept. 10. Wangchuk said he was not seeking to provoke violence and called off the hunger strike after the clashes, though authorities maintained that his rhetoric helped incite the protests. The Home Ministry framed the violence as a response to the disturbances rather than a spontaneous expression of discontent by residents.

The clashes marked the worst violence in Ladakh in decades and underscored residents' growing frustration with changes implemented in 2019, when New Delhi reorganized the region’s governance and trimmed its semi-autonomy. Some residents welcomed the changes initially, but concerns soon emerged about threats to land rights, potential economic disruptions, and the fragile ecology of Ladakh’s high-altitude deserts. Critics say the changes could alter land use, affect livelihoods tied to pastureland and agriculture, and complicate traditional norms in a sparsely populated region.

Ladakh representatives have held several rounds of talks with Indian officials over the past years, though gains have been limited. An official meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6, with participants expected to revisit questions about governance, land, and development policies in the region. In the meantime, authorities have urged calm and a return to dialogue, while security forces monitor potential demonstrations and statements from activists and local groups.

Experts point to Ladakh’s remote geography and climate vulnerabilities as factors that complicate governance and development. The region’s thousands of glaciers are receding, threatening water supplies for millions downstream, while floods, landslides and droughts have become more frequent in recent years. Environmental pressures are compounded by heightened militarization since 2020 amid ongoing border tensions with China, contributing to concerns about the sustainability of the region’s fragile ecosystem and its communities' long-term stability.

As the government enforces restrictions, residents and local leaders are pressing for a path forward that addresses governance, land rights, and the protection of Ladakh’s environment while seeking assurances that any future development will respect the region’s cultural heritage and ecological balance. Officials say security measures will remain in place as investigations into the violence continue and authorities assess whether further steps are needed to restore calm and facilitate negotiations.