SRINAGAR: A shutdown was observed across parts of Ladakh, marking a year since four people were killed during protests in Leh over demands for statehood and safeguards under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule.
Shops and business establishments remained closed in Leh and Kargil, while thin traffic affected normal activity. The day was observed by some groups as Shaheed Diwas, with tribute programmes held in both towns for those killed in the September 24, 2025 violence.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent face of last year’s protests, led a symbolic padyatra in Leh to mark the anniversary. The march, organised by the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, was shortened because of changing weather conditions, organisers said.
After covering about 20 km, participants reached Shaheed Memorial Park in Leh at around 7 pm. Representatives of the Apex Body Leh joined the march, which organisers said saw limited participation as they had not made a wider appeal outside Ladakh.
Wangchuk said the march was held in memory of those killed in the firing and called for the early submission and public release of the judicial inquiry report into the incident.
The protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards turned violent on September 24 last year, leaving four people dead and several injured. The Union Territory administration subsequently ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
On Wednesday, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the withdrawal of criminal cases against 20 people booked in connection with the violence.
Wangchuk said a year had passed without the inquiry report being made public and sought clarity on the circumstances leading to the firing, whether an order for firing had been issued, the alleged use of automatic weapons against protesters and how the violence began.
Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act two days after the incident and was released in March this year.
