Ladakh civil society group begins protest over Home Ministry failure to hold talks

Voters queue up outside a polling booth to cast their votes during the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Election, at Kaksar village in Kargil. File

Ladakh’s civil society group, the Leh Apex Body (LAB), on Thursday (November 12, 2026) organised an indefinite sit-in in Leh over the failure of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to resume talks with the civil society bodies of the region and holding of hill council elections at the peak of winter. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was put under house arrest and disallowed to join the protest.

Scores of protesters, both men and women, assembled at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Memorial Park in Leh. It is the same site where a major demonstration broke out in September 2025. The protesters raised six demands, which included opposition to simultaneous elections, convening of the MHA Sub-Committee meeting, release of the Judicial Enquiry Commission report on the September 24 incident, unconditional withdrawal of all cases, constituting an independent Delimitation Commission and complete roll back of the new liquor policy.

“Our indefinite dharna is over the MHA’s failure to resume talks with Ladakh groups and holding of hill council elections at the peak of winter. Already 25% of the population has left Ladakh. This is not the right time to hold elections,” said LAB co-chairman Tsering Dorjey Lakrook.

For the first time, the LAB also highlighted fears over the fairness of upcoming elections. “We fear these elections will be rigged. We have apprehensions of vote ‘chori’. Several voters, mostly Gen Z voters, have been deleted from the electoral rolls. They can’t enrol now. We see a conspiracy behind holding of these elections,” said Mr. Lakrook.

The State Election Commission (SEC) in Ladakh has announced panchayat and municipal elections on November 21 and hill council elections in eight districts on December 4. Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature, and these hill councils are the main platform for public representatives to operate from. However, the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) oppose council elections in December and demand postponement by six months.

“We are going to intensify our protests. The LAB and the KDA are in touch with each other. We also face issues such as liquor licence, Nautor land issue etc.,” said Mr. Lakrook.

He said people of trans-Himalayas were unhappy. “Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing protests over land. Ladakh is observing protests over rights. People of these regions are the first to support the Army in case of any threat. Is this good for national security?” asked Mr. Lakrook.

Meanwhile, the L-G administration stopped Mr. Wangchuk from joining these protests. “It is sad Mr. Wangchuk, who is an important member of the LAB, was placed under house arrest on Wednesday (November 11, 2026). He was having food with us when he was asked to shift to his home. This exposes the administration. All he does is support our demands,” said Mr. Lakrook.

Invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the District Magistrate, Leh, on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) imposed restrictions on Mr. Wangchuk on his movement, “to refrain from engaging in any activity, organising or participating in any unauthorised rally, procession or public gathering or conduct that is likely to cause a breach of public peace, disturbance of public tranquillity or obstruction to the peaceful conduct of the ongoing electoral processes within the territorial jurisdiction of Leh”.

“This order shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of 60 days, unless rescinded or modified earlier in accordance with law,” it said.

According to an official order, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Leh, was directed to issue preventive orders and imposition of restrictions upon Mr. Wangchuk “on the grounds that his activities, previous antecedents, and alleged attempts to mobilise and instigate the general public have affected public order in the district before”.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and ex-Member of Parliament Thupstan Chhewang extended support to the upcoming elections and appealed to the people of Ladakh “to participate wholeheartedly and peacefully in the forthcoming December 4 hill council elections”.

Describing these elections as “a historic opportunity to strengthen grassroots democracy and secure the region’s future”, Mr. Chhewang said, “The 33% reservation for women has been introduced for the first time. I urge Ladakhi women to seize this opportunity to participate actively in political leadership and decision-making.”

He also welcomed the creation of six new districts. Referring to the struggle for Ladakh’s autonomy and Union Territory status, Mr. Chhewang said, “These achievements were secured through patience, unity, perseverance and collective determination. The hard-won democratic rights and institutions of Ladakh must be protected and strengthened rather than allowed to weaken”.

He underlined Ladakh’s unwavering commitment to India’s unity and territorial integrity and emphasised the need to safeguard the region’s distinct cultural identity, fragile environment and deeply cherished Buddhist spiritual heritage.

“I appeal to the younger generation not to let this historic opportunity go to waste. This is a path-breaking moment, and no one should stand in its way,” said Mr. Chhewang.