By: A.M. Hendropriyono
Professor of the Philosophy of Intelligence at the State Intelligence College (STIN)
Introduction:
On 24 September 2025, mass demonstrations demanding statehood status and stronger constitutional protections for Ladakh escalated into violent clashes between protesters and police in Leh.
At least four people were reported killed and dozens injured. Protesters hurled stones, torched public facilities — including the BJP office in Leh — and set police vehicles ablaze.
Authorities stated that the use of force, including gunfire, was an act of “self-defense” against what they described as “an uncontrollable mob.”
The Ladakh region, in northern India, is a strategic Himalayan border zone that has long been a flashpoint in the India–China territorial dispute.
Military skirmishes have occurred there, most notably in 2020, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Yet, beyond the physical tension, India now faces non-military threats — notably through the operations of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking to influence public opinion and foster anti-government sentiment.
One of the organizations flagged by Indian authorities is the International Republican Institute (IRI) — a U.S.-based NGO affiliated with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
IRI’s Activities in Ladakh:
According to Indian security records, IRI and some of its local partners have become increasingly active in the Ladakh region since 2022–2023.
Their programs, framed under themes of “border community democratization” and “civic participation,” were, however, found on the ground to involve:
1. Dissemination of anti-central government narratives,
2. Exploitation of local ethnic and religious grievances,
3. Mobilization of protests and civil movements in border-sensitive areas.
To Indian intelligence analysts, this pattern represented a non-military proxy operation, in which human rights and pluralism issues are instrumentalized as political vehicles to test India’s sovereignty over Ladakh.
India’s Decisive Response:
The Government of India acted swiftly and firmly. Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), New Delhi’s authorities immediately:
