Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Sonam Wangchuk Announces Symbolic 20-Km Ladakh March Amid Demands
Sonam Wangchuk is planning a short march in Ladakh.
The march will be 20 kilometres long and is scheduled for September 23.
It was shortened because the nights have become very cold.
A memorial event will take place on September 24.
The event will remember people who died during protests in Leh in 2025.
Wangchuk wants stronger protection for Ladakh’s culture and environment.
He and other groups also want Ladakh to have constitutional safeguards and an elected democratic body.
The Ladakh administration has approved money for families of those killed and for injured people.
Sonam Wangchuk announced a symbolic 20-kilometre padyatra toward Leh on September 23.
The march was shortened from a planned September 19–23 event because of cold nights and weather conditions.
Wangchuk urged people to join the march and attend the September 24 martyrs’ day event.
The action supports demands for constitutional safeguards, cultural and environmental protection, and an elected democratic body for Ladakh.
Authorities approved compensation for victims of the September 2025 Leh violence, although reports differ on whether 43 or 44 people were injured.
- Who
- Climate activist and Leh Apex Body leader Sonam Wangchuk, along with people supporting Ladakh’s demands.
- What
- A symbolic 20-kilometre padyatra followed by a September 24 martyrs’ day event.
- When
- The padyatra is scheduled for September 23; the memorial event is scheduled for September 24.
- Where
- The march will proceed symbolically toward Leh in Ladakh.
- Why
- To advocate protection of Ladakh’s culture and environment, constitutional safeguards, and a democratic elected body, while remembering those killed during 2025 protests.
Ladakh Activists’ Position
Authorities’ Position
Political safeguards and protest responsibility
Ladakh Activists’ Position
Wangchuk and the Leh Apex Body, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, are pressing for constitutional safeguards and an elected democratic body for Ladakh.
Authorities’ Position
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ladakh’s Director General of Police alleged that Wangchuk was a ringleader whose speeches incited young people to violence; he was detained under the National Security Act before his detention was revoked.
Response to the 2025 violence
Ladakh Activists’ Position
Activist groups identified compensation for those killed and injured as a key demand and continue to organize memorial and protest activities.
Authorities’ Position
The Ladakh administration approved ex gratia assistance for the victims and injured people, including Rs 15 lakh for each deceased person’s next of kin.
- March distance
- 20 kilometres
- March date
- September 23
- Memorial date
- September 24
- Original plan
- A padyatra scheduled from September 19 to 23
- Reason for change
- Cold nights and prevailing weather conditions
- Compensation for deceased victims
- Rs 15 lakh each for the next of kin of four people
- Compensation for injured people
- Rs 3 lakh for major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries
- 2025 violence
- Four people were killed in Leh; reports cited either 43 or 44 injured people