Sonam Wangchuk demands judicial probe into killing of four in Leh protests

Detained engineer-turned-activist Sonam Wangchuk has appealed for an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four civilians in the September 24 protests, according to a letter released from the Jodhpur jail on Sunday (October 5, 2025).

“My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested. There should be an independent judicial Inquiry into the killing of our four people and, unless that is done, I am prepared to stay in jail,” Mr. Wangchuk said, in the purported letter from the jail.

The contents of the letter were shared by advocate Mustafa Haji, a legal adviser to the Leh Apex Body (LAB) that is spearheading an agitation over the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule (ST) for the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh. Mr. Haji met the activist in the jail on October 4.