Following last month’s violent protests in Leh, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) has announced that representatives from Ladakh will hold a fresh round of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on 22 October.

The meeting will include three representatives each from the Leh Apex Body, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and Ladakh’s Member of Parliament. The dialogue comes amid sustained unrest in the region, with local leaders demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.

Background: Tensions Following Police Firing

The announcement marks a significant shift from earlier this month when the LAB boycotted the previously scheduled talks with the Centre. Their decision came in the wake of the 24 September incident, in which security forces opened fire during protests in Leh, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to nearly 90 others.

On 29 September, the LAB called for an impartial judicial probe into the firing and demanded an official apology from the Centre for labelling Ladakhi protestors as “anti-national” and accusing them of “playing into Pakistan’s hands.”

Both the LAB and KDA have blamed the Union Territory administration for what they describe as a heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrations. “The way bullets were fired and many injured — there must be accountability. This is exactly why we’re demanding democracy,” said KDA leader Sajjad Kargili at the time.

Arrest of Sonam Wangchuk Fuels Anger

The recent arrest of renowned climate activist and statehood advocate Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) has further intensified tensions. Wangchuk, a key figure in Ladakh’s statehood campaign, has been transferred to a jail in Jodhpur. His arrest has triggered widespread condemnation and drawn national attention to the region’s ongoing demands.