Shutdown, protest rallies in Ladakh over Statehood, Sixth Schedule demands

Protest rallies were held successful Ladakh connected Monday (March 16, 2026), marking the archetypal lawsuit since unit erupted successful September past year, connected the telephone of the socio-political groupings of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to property for Statehood presumption and inclusion successful the Sixth Schedule.

Hundreds of locals marched from Singay Namgyal Chowk up to Leh Polo Ground successful Leh town. In Kargil, protesters held a rally successful the municipality that was attended by hundreds of locals. The KDA and the LAB had called for shutdown connected March 16 successful Ladakh. Protesters were carrying banners and raising slogans successful favour of Statehood and the Sixth Schedule. They raised slogans that the existent Union Territory presumption was unacceptable to the region. Ladakah was carved retired arsenic a U.T. successful 2019 from the Kashmir part of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir.

“For the past six years, the radical of Ladakh person been deprived of antiauthoritarian practice and law safeguards. The voices from the mountains are increasing louder for justice, rights, and restoration of democracy. Although our activistic Sonam Wangchuk has been released, our conflict for morganatic rights volition continue. We besides request the merchandise of Deldan Namgyal and Smanla Dorjey,” said Sajjad Kargili, a subordinate of the KDA.

In Leh, the protesters besides recalled those who died successful the protests successful September. On September 24, 2025, 4 civilians were killed and astir 90 persons were injured successful protests. It was followed by the apprehension of climate activistic Sonam Wangchuk connected September 26 nether the National Security Act (NSA). Leh witnessed imposition of aggregate spells of curfew and net outage.

“The determination to revoke the detention bid of Mr. Wangchuk symbolises a triumph for Ladakh and restores the dignity of the community, which had been unfairly targeted by specified accusations. While the removal of the detention bid is simply a important achievement, the broader demands of the question stay unresolved. The relay protests are being conducted with afloat committedness to non-violence,” said Dorjay Lakrook, president of LAB.