Leh, Sept. 23 -- Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk led a symbolic padyatra in Leh on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the September 24, 2025 violence during protests seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards for Ladakh, in which four people were killed.
The march -- organised ahead of Thursday's Shaheed Diwas, and joined by representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) -- was shortened because of changing weather conditions. Activists are likely to reach the Shaheed Memorial Park in Leh at 7 pm today.
The padyatra, however, saw limited participation from local people of Ladakh. The organisers said they deliberately refrained from a large-scale appeal outside the region, as several people in Ladakh wanted locals to lead the commemorative programme.
Wangchuk, who is part of the LAB and engaged in dialogue with the Centre along
with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), said the march was held to remember those who lost their lives and demanded justice for those killed and injured during last year's protests.
"We organised the padyatra today and will observe Shaheed Diwas tomorrow in memory of those who were killed in the indiscriminate firing on September 24 last year. The day will be observed as Shaheed Diwas, with people expected to offer prayers at temples, mosques, churches and other religious places," Wangchuk told reporters.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.