Leh Violence Leaves Four Dead, Three in Their Early 20s; Victims Suffered Multiple Bullet Wounds

Leh | September 26, 2025 A day after violent clashes broke out in Leh during protests demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, details have emerged about the four men who lost their lives. Sources confirmed that three of the deceased were in their early 20s and all had sustained multiple bullet wounds to their torsos and heads. The deceased were identified as Jigmet Dorjay (25) from Kharnakling, Stanzin Namgyal (23) from Igoo, Rinchen Dadul (20) from Hanu, and Tsewang Tharchin (46) from Skur Buchan. While Dorjay and Namgyal lived within 40 km of Leh, Dadul belonged to Hanu, a village over 160 km away, and Tharchin hailed from Skur Buchan, located more than 200 km from the Ladakh capital. According to sources, Tharchin was an ex-serviceman, while Namgyal had recently begun working with a travel agency after completing his studies in Leh. A family member described Namgyal as “a good boy,” but declined to speak further, citing restrictions on engaging with the media. Authorities, too, have remained reticent, though sources confirmed the bodies were handed over to the families on Thursday. The violence left not just fatalities but also widespread injuries. Over 50 wounded civilians were admitted to Leh’s SNM Hospital on Wednesday. “Among the deceased, two were alive when they arrived but succumbed later. They had sustained multiple bullet injuries to the torso and head. About half a dozen others are being treated for serious gunshot wounds, while many suffered pellet and baton injuries. Some patients with fractures are recovering,” hospital sources revealed. The unrest unfolded against the backdrop of a shutdown called by youth and student groups, supporting demands for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule. The strike intensified after two protesters, who had been fasting alongside activist Sonam Wangchuk, collapsed and were hospitalised. As the protests escalated, mobs targeted government property, with the BJP office in Leh set ablaze. Visuals of thick smoke billowing from the building highlighted the scale of the violence. The political fallout deepened after allegations surfaced that Upper Leh Councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, associated with the BJP, was seen in videos participating in the unrest. However, his uncle Lobzang Rinchen, a local hotelier now receiving treatment for injuries, strongly denied the charge. Rinchen insisted Tsepag was at the Druk Ladakh Hotel by 12.50 pm, well before violence broke out at 1.15 pm. “We have CCTV footage proving he wasn’t at the protest site when the clashes began. Despite this, police raided my hotel at 2 am, abused us, and beat me when I explained the truth,” Rinchen alleged. Meanwhile, the Centre has rushed a special envoy to Leh and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has chaired a high-level security review. Police and paramilitary personnel remain on alert as tensions persist. The deaths of young men like Namgyal and Dadul have intensified public anger, adding urgency to ongoing talks between the administration and protest leaders. For many in Ladakh, the tragedy underscores the gravity of their demand for greater autonomy and recognition. Leh Violence Leaves Four Dead, Families in Mourning Four men lost their lives in Wednesday’s violent protests in Leh, three of them in their early 20s. Identified as Jigmet Dorjay (25), Stanzin Namgyal (23), Rinchen Dadul (20), and ex-serviceman Tsewang Tharchin (46), they reportedly died from multiple bullet wounds. The unrest erupted during a shutdown called by youth and student groups demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. Over 50 civilians were injured, with some suffering gunshot wounds while others had pellet and baton injuries. The violence also saw the BJP office in Leh set ablaze, escalating tensions and drawing urgent attention from the Centre.