The violence that erupted in Leh last week is more than a sudden outburst of anger in a remote Himalayan desert. It is a chilling reminder of how long-simmering grievances, left unattended by the state, can ignite even in a region celebrated for its serenity. The deaths of protesters and the imposition of curfew are not isolated incidents; they are the culmination of years of frustration over the way Ladakh’s destiny has been decided without the consent of its people.

When Ladakh was carved out of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and placed under direct central rule, the move was presented as a bold step toward better governance and development. In practice, it removed long-standing constitutional protections and concentrated power in a lieutenant governor appointed by New Delhi. Both Leh’s Buddhist majority and Kargil’s Muslim majority ~ communities with distinct histories and often divergent political aspirations ~ found common........

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