The Ladakh administration has officially launched a magisterial inquiry into the violent events of September 24th. This decision, announced on Thursday, October 2, 2025, comes after a protest outside the BJP office in Leh town tragically resulted in four fatalities.
These violent demonstrations unfolded amidst a 35-day hunger strike initiated by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The strike was a response to the central government’s perceived inaction in holding “result-oriented” discussions concerning critical, long-standing demands, notably the plea for Statehood and the special constitutional protection of Sixth Schedule status for the region.
During the intense protests, a largely youth-driven crowd resorted to extreme measures, setting fire to the BJP office and vandalizing the premises of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
Tasked with investigating this grave “law and order situation” is IAS officer Mukul Beniwal, who serves as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nubra. His leadership will be crucial in probing the circumstances surrounding the unrest.
This magisterial inquiry has been ordered in direct response to repeated calls from key civil society organizations, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). These groups have strenuously pushed for a judicial investigation into the deaths of four civilians, including a respected Kargil war veteran, who tragically lost their lives during police action amidst the September 24, 2025 protests in Leh. The protests themselves were fueled by demands for robust constitutional safeguards for the sensitive region.
Notably, leading up to and during these protests, prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, alongside numerous other Ladakh residents, had been engaged in a hunger strike since September 10, 2025. Their collective action was to champion the demand for constitutional protections for Ladakh, a strategically important region bordering China, which was reclassified as a Union Territory in 2019.
In an effort to control the escalating situation, Ladakh’s Lieutenant-Governor Kavinder Gupta implemented a curfew in Leh town on September 24, 2025. This precautionary measure remained in effect until its relaxation on September 30.
Adding another layer to the crisis, Mr. Wangchuk was subsequently arrested on September 27, 2025, under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).