Sonam Wangchuk demands judicial report, Shah's resignation

Sonam Wangchuk demanded the public release of a judicial inquiry report and the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The climate activist made the call on the first anniversary of the Leh violence that killed four people last year.

Wangchuk addressed a gathering to commemorate the event. He referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent demand for Shah’s resignation over police action against students in New Delhi. Wangchuk supported that call but questioned Gandhi's silence on the situation in Ladakh. He held the Home Minister politically responsible for the deaths during last year's agitation and asserted that accountability must be fixed.

Context of the 2025 violence and protests

The violence occurred during protests on September 24, 2025. Those protests centred on demands for statehood for Ladakh and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Wangchuk alleged that security personnel used automatic weapons, including AK-47s, against local youth. He said bullets hit victims in the heads and chests. Four protesters were killed and 44 people were injured.

Wangchuk alleged three magistrates present during the violence refused to sign firing orders. He said the youth were subsequently branded as 'anti-national'. He linked the violence to the longstanding, unfulfilled demands of Ladakh.

Judicial inquiry and government response

The Centre ordered a judicial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the law-and-order situation, police action, and deaths. The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the inquiry, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B. S. Chauhan. The government has maintained it remains committed to providing constitutional safeguards for Ladakh and is resolving the region’s concerns through dialogue.

Commemoration amid restrictions and fear

A shutdown was observed across Leh, Kargil and other parts of Ladakh on the anniversary. Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was thin. The day was observed by sections of the region as 'Martyrs' Day'.

Wangchuk alleged that heavy security deployment and restrictions contributed to low public participation in Thursday's commemoration. He said people are afraid because there are barricades everywhere and armed personnel have been deployed. He alleged some village representatives and students were discouraged from attending. The event saw a limited turnout.

The Ladakh Police termed the allegations as false, baseless, and misleading. They said no one was stopped from attending the prayer meet organised to pay tributes to the victims. Police said security deployments were part of standard protocols and barricades were for traffic and crowd management. They stated permission was duly granted to the Ladakh Buddhist Association to hold the public meeting at the NDS ground in Leh, which has a capacity of 10,000 people. According to police, fewer than 800 people attended the meeting.

Wangchuk’s background and warnings

Sonam Wangchuk is a prominent climate activist. He spent nearly six months in custody following the 2025 violence before the Centre revoked his detention under the National Security Act in March 2026.

Wangchuk expressed apprehension that he might be killed in an 'encounter' for speaking out and said he received warnings about threats to his life. He said he was prepared to face any outcome if it served to awaken the nation. "Today, from Ladakh, I say, Amit Shah should resign. He has to take responsibility for what happened in Ladakh," Wangchuk said.

He warned that an independent 'people's tribunal' will be constituted to probe the police firing if the judicial inquiry report is not released.