Four dead, dozens injured as Ladakh statehood protests turn violent
Leh, Sept 24: Protests in Leh demanding statehood and constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule have turned violent, leaving four people dead and more than 70 injured. The unrest, which saw a local BJP office set on fire, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing movement for greater autonomy in the region.
The violence erupted today after two participants in a hunger strike, organized by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), were hospitalized due to their deteriorating health. Tensions were already high after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 15-day fast a day earlier. A group of protestors began pelting stones, which was met with police action.
According to Chering Dorjey, Chairman of the Leh Apex Body, the deaths were a result of intense firing in the town. In addition to setting fire to the BJP office, protestors also torched a security vehicle. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges to control the crowds.
In response to the unrest, the Union Territory administration has banned protests and gatherings in Leh and enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to restore order. Additional security forces have been deployed to sensitive areas to prevent further violence.
Hospitals in Leh reported a high number of casualties throughout the day, with many of the injured requiring intensive care.
The violence overshadowed the two-day Ladakh Festival, which was called off midway. The administration cited “unavoidable circumstances” and apologized to the artists and tourists who had gathered for the event.
Following the clashes, Sonam Wangchuk urged protestors to remain calm. “I request the youth to stop arson and clashes. We are ending our fast, and I urge the administration to stop using tear gas,” he said. “No hunger strike succeeds if lives are lost in violence.”
The demands for statehood and special protections are long-standing issues that predate Ladakh’s separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have argued that these safeguards are essential to protect the region’s fragile ecology, unique culture, and tribal population.
Both the LAB and KDA are scheduled to meet with the central government in New Delhi on October 6 for new talks, but protestors are pushing to have the meeting moved to an earlier date.
A local political commentator noted that the recent unrest is a reflection of the growing frustration over a lack of progress on these demands. The deadly clashes add urgency to the upcoming talks, which will be a critical test of the government’s willingness to engage with the demands of the people of Ladakh.