Year after Ladakh protests, Sonam Wangchuk to lead march as political climate warms

Climate advocate Sonam Wangchuk is set to lead a symbolic 20-kilometer march in Leh next week, commemorating the one-year anniversary of civilian deaths following violent protests in Ladakh. On September 24, 2022, police firing killed four civilians in Leh city after protests turned violent. Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike at the time of the incident, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and held in Jodhpur jail for six months.

The march was initially planned to begin in Kargil, but weather conditions led to its truncation to a 20-kilometer "symbolic" route in Leh on September 23. Wangchuk emphasized that September 24 will be honored as "Shaheed Diwas" to honor the memory of the victims who fought for Ladakh's environment and democracy. The Ladakh administration recently announced compensation for the families of the four civilians killed during the police firing, fulfilling one of the demands raised by the two representative bodies of the Union Territory.

Additionally, the administration has allocated funds for injured protesters and has also proposed statehood for Ladakh.