Ladakh statehood movement takes violent turn; 4 killed

Four people were killed and over 70 injured, including 30 police and CRPF personnel, on Wednesday in the clashes between protesters and security personnel in Leh during which the BJP office was ransacked and several police vehicles damaged. The administration has imposed section 163 of BNS, prohibiting any gathering of five or more people and warned of strict action against violators.

The protestors said that they were suffering and frustrated due to the "inaction and delaying tactics of the BJP-led central government and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, also led by BJP in Leh" in addressing the concerns of the people, including the demand of statehood for Ladakh and implementation of sixth schedule.

Leaders of Kargil have called for a shutdown in Kargil on Thursday against the killings and the situation in Leh. A team of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs is also expected to land in Leh on Thursday to assess the situation and interact with stakeholders.


The violent protest took place on the 15th day of the ongoing protest fast led by activist Sonam Wangchuk. Some of the student bodies had also called for a strike in Leh on Wednesday, following the critical illness of the two elderly protesters on Tuesday evening, who were also on fast since September 10. Some of the protesters said police initially resorted to tear smoke shelling to control the protest but later used bullets when protests intensified. The protests started when hundreds of youngsters, gathered at the fasting site of Wangchuk, suddenly moved out of the protest site and started marching in the Leh town towards the BJP office. "Initially, there was stone pelting at the government building and police vehicles but later the BJP office was ransacked and a vehicle in its compound put on fire," said a local in Leh.

Like the frenzy of Gen Z: Wangchuk
In the wake of the situation, Wangchuk called off his fast which was scheduled to continue for at least 35 days in the first phase. He said he didn't subscribe to violent measures, but youngsters of Ladakh have been pushed to the wall by the Centre since 2020. He feared that continuation of his fast would trigger more such situations and create instability along the border region.

"Our peaceful protests, long marches and protest fasts haven't yielded any results over the past five years due to inaction of the central government which gave a reason to youngsters to choose this violent path we don't subscribe to," said Wangchuk while addressing an online presser. He said, "Government of India made a joke of the peaceful movement and when it failed, it created an opening for violence. It was like the frenzy of Gen Z. We condemn this violence as it has put a question mark on our struggle."

FRESH round of TALKS SCHEDULED FOR Oct 6
A fresh round of talks is scheduled between the Centre and Ladakh representatives, comprising members of Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance on October 6. "Youngsters felt that the government wanted us all to die. They wanted immediate and advancement of talks with result-oriented actions," said Wangchuk. Locals in Ladakh said this anger has been brewing for a long time and it was impossible that the central government was not aware of it.

LAHDC polls were scheduled to be held in October and clashes have cast a shadow on it as well.