On 24 September 2025, violent protests erupted in Leh, Ladakh, demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The demonstrations escalated when protesters clashed with police, leading to the deaths of at least four individuals and injuries to over 70 others. In response, authorities imposed a curfew and restricted internet access in the region. Prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been leading hunger strikes advocating for these demands, was arrested on 26 September 2025 under the National Security Act and transferred to Jodhpur Jail. The situation remains tense, with ongoing calls for the government to address the region’s grievances and grant greater autonomy to Ladakh (here, here, and here).
In this context, a video circulating on social media (here, here, and here) claims to show the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, admitting that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s office instructed officials to label jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent figure in the recent agitation for Ladakh’s statehood as a “Pakistani agent.” In the video, the ADC is allegedly heard saying: “As you all know, the unfortunate incident yesterday in Leh left 90 people hospitalised, four of whom died, seven critically injured, and 20 in major trauma. I request the people of Ladakh to note that the Home Ministry ordered us to arrest Sonam Wangchuk. Amit Shah’s office instructed us to accuse him of being a Pakistani agent. I urge the people of Leh not to attack police offices. If you want to protest, go to the BJP workers’ office. We have no role in this arrest; we are only servants carrying out orders.” Let’s verify the truth behind the video in this article.
Claim: The video shows the ADC of Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, admitting that Amit Shah’s office issued orders to arrest Sonam Wangchuk and label him a Pakistani agent.
Fact: The viral video is digitally altered. The original press briefing by ADC Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, on 25 September 2025, shows him updating the public on injuries and deaths during the 24 September Leh protests and urging for peace. Nowhere did he claim that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on instructions from the Union Home Ministry or label him a “Pakistani agent.” Analysis using the Hiya voice detection tool flagged the audio in the viral clip as a deepfake. PIB Fact Check also confirmed that the video is manipulated and warned that such AI-generated content is intended to mislead and create panic. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to a Facebook post dated 25 September 2025, showing a press briefing by ADC Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, and ASP Leh, Regzin Sangdup. The background, clothing, and setting in the official video match those seen in the viral clip. In the briefing, Ghulam Muhammad provided details about injuries sustained during the 24 September 2025 Leh protest and appealed to local authorities and the public to maintain peace. Nowhere in the video did the ADC Leh state that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on instructions from the Union Home Ministry, nor did he mention labelling Wangchuk a Pakistani agent. The original video simply shows the ADC updating the public on the aftermath of the violent clashes, which left four dead and 90 injured, and urging law and order.
Suspecting the video to be AI-manipulated, we analysed it using the Hiya voice detection tool, which flagged the audio in the viral video as a deepfake.
Additionally, we came across an X post by PIB Fact Check, dated 02 October 2025, debunking the viral video. It stated that a digitally altered video of ADC Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, is circulating on social media, falsely showing him claiming that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested at the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ADC has made no such statement. PIB Fact Check warned that such AI-generated videos are intended to mislead the public and create panic. Users are advised to rely only on official sources, verify content before sharing, and report any misleading material.
To sum up, this video of Leh ADC Ghulam Muhammad stating that Amit Shah’s office ordered Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest and asked them to label him a Pakistani agent is fake.
