The political standoff in Ladakh has deepened after the Leh Apex Body announced it would withdraw from talks with the Centre, laying down tough preconditions for any future dialogue.
The leaders demanded a judicial inquiry into civilian killings during last week&rsquo;s statehood protest in Leh, where four demonstrators lost their lives and dozens were injured. They also sought an apology from the administration for labelling the agitators as &ldquo;anti-national&rdquo; and called for the immediate release of all detained protesters, including climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk.
At a press briefing, Apex Body leaders Chering Dorjey and Thupstan Chawang accused security forces of using excessive force. They alleged that the CRPF resorted to &ldquo;goondagardi&rdquo; (hooliganism), leaving fear and mistrust across a region that had rarely witnessed such repression before.
The anger intensified after Lieutenant Governor S.D. Jamwal and senior police officials hinted at foreign involvement in the protests, suggesting Pakistani links. &ldquo;Such allegations deeply angered us,&rdquo; Dorjey said, stressing that the movement was rooted in Ladakh&rsquo;s demand for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
Adding to the controversy, Wangchuk&rsquo;s wife Gitanjali Angmo defended him publicly, questioning why his international engagements were being portrayed as suspect. &ldquo;If it&rsquo;s okay for the Hon. PM to meet Muhammad Yunus, why is it a problem when @Wangchuk66, India&rsquo;s educator and innovator, meets him?&rdquo; she asked in a post on X. She also rejected claims of Pakistan links, pointing to Wangchuk&rsquo;s remarks at a UN climate forum where he had praised Prime Minister Modi&rsquo;s environmental initiatives.
Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions continue in Leh for the sixth straight day, as Wangchuk remains in Jodhpur jail under the National Security Act. The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which is allied with the Leh Apex Body, joined the call for his release, warning that such measures risk deepening alienation in a sensitive border region.
The Centre has reiterated that it remains open to discussions, but Ladakh&rsquo;s demand for justice and dignity has, for now, placed a hard pause on the dialogue process.

Ladakh’s Message: Release, Then Dialogue

Leh leaders quit Centre talks, demand justice for protest deaths and activist’s release

Ladakh’s Message: Release, Then Dialogue

Leh leaders quit Centre talks, demand justice for protest deaths and activist’s release

September 30, 2025 | 09:27 IST