Who is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag? Congress councillor accused of instigating 'Gen Z' protests in Ladakh

Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag

A day after violent protests claimed four lives and injured many more in Leh city in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Bharatiya Janata Party has blamed a Congress councilor, Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, for instigating the mob in the Union Territory. The saffron party has also claimed that Wednesday's violence in Ladakh over the statehood demand was a part of the Congress's "nefarious design" to create situations similar to Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.

The protest for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, turned violent after agitators indulged in arson and vandalism, setting ablaze the BJP office and the Hill Council. The Union Home Ministry claimed Wangchuk’s ‘provocative’ statements, where he mentioned “GenZ protest and Arab spring”, were responsible for this.

This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward.

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He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council.

Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been… pic.twitter.com/o2WHdcCIuC

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 24, 2025

At a press conference, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Congress councillor Stanzin Tsepang is the main instigator behind the Ladakh violence. The BJP MP said attempts were made to “portray” that protests were being led by Gen Z.

"Stanzin Tsepang is the councillor from the Upper Leh ward. He is the main instigator, and numerous photos have surfaced of him and his workers instigating the violence. He can also be seen marching towards the BJP office with a weapon in his hand. He is instigating the mob and targeting the BJP office. A video of this has also surfaced, and the BJP has also posted it. Councillor Stanzin Tsepang is with Rahul Gandhi," Patra said.

#WATCH | Delhi | On protests in Leh, BJP MP Sambit Patra says, "Today, in Ladakh, attempts were made to portray some protests as being led by Gen Z. However, when investigated, it was discovered that these protests were not led by Gen Z, but by Congress. Congress councillor… pic.twitter.com/BTED6PRMfQ

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— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2025

However, dismissing BJP's charges, Wangchuk said that the violence was fuelled by the BJP’s ‘U-turns’ on promises the party had made in 2020 and youth unemployment in the region. He condemned the violence but called it “out of the blue” and “very organic” and triggered by the worsening health of fellow hunger strikers.

Wangchuk categorically dismissed claims that the protests were politically motivated, adding that the youth were frustrated because they had been jobless for the last five years, with almost no job opportunities at higher levels. “Besides, democracy has been curtailed. Their demands have been unmet,” he said. He said the Congress party was not competent enough for one of theirs to call 5,000 people. “That would be too much credit for their influence,” Wangchuk said.