The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday (Sep 24) held climate activist Sonam Wangchuk responsible for the violent turn of protests in Ladakh that left four people dead and over 70 injured.

In its statement, the MHA said that the hunger strike called by Wangchuk was based on issues that were already part of ongoing talks with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance. The ministry added that the High-Powered Committee (HPC) had achieved “phenomenal results,” but “politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made.”

The MHA accused Wangchuk of ignoring repeated appeals to end his protest.
 “The demands on which Sonam Wangchuk was on hunger strike are an integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hunger strike and misled the people through provocative mentions of Arab Spring-style protests and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” the ministry said.

It added: “Barring unfortunate incidents that happened early in the day, the situation is brought under control by 4 PM. It is clear that the mob was incited by Shri Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements. Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation.”

The ministry urged the people of Ladakh not to share old or provocative videos on social media.

The protest began as a 15-day hunger strike on September 15, but later grew into a large-scale shutdown on September 24–25. Crowds blocked major roads, clashed with police, set the BJP headquarters on fire, and pelted stones at security personnel.

At least four people were killed, and more than 70 others were injured during the clashes.

Following the violence, the administration imposed curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023) in Leh. The order banned gatherings of more than five people, and said no rally, march, or procession could take place without written permission.

Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta expressed grief over the deaths and condemned the violence. He said the stone-pelting and arson had created a serious law-and-order situation, damaging democratic institutions and public property.

“Violence in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Gupta said, directing the administration and police to restore calm and ensure public safety.