Leh, Ladakh — A protest demanding statehood and more autonomy in Ladakh escalated into violence on Wednesday and ended in widespread unrest, destruction of property, and the loss of lives. Four people were killed, and many more were injured as violence between protesters and security personnel mounted.
From Hunger Strike to Flames
The agitation came after a prolonged hunger strike by climate campaigner Sonam Wangchuk for Ladakh to be given full statehood and brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Two of the agitators were hospitalised on Wednesday as their condition deteriorated.
In return, the youth department of the Leh Apex Body issued a shutdown and mass protest call in Leh. Thousands of people took part in the protest. But soon everything went out of hand. Protesters reportedly threw stones, burned down the BJP office in Leh, and set ablaze many vehicles including a police van. Security forces retaliated by unleashing tear gas and baton charges.
Government Responds: Curfew & Protest Ban
After the violence, prohibitory orders were clamped by the Leh district administration, prohibiting gatherings of more than five individuals, and curfews were put in place. The Leh festival, which was to wind up that day, was cancelled.
Sonam Wangchuk broke his 15-day fast and made an appeal to the public for peace. He accepted that the acts of arson and violence had “overpowered our peaceful protest.”
Political Blame Game
Political tensions have flared. Congress was accused by the BJP of leading the mob and of naming a Congress councillor, Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, who allegedly spearheaded the violence. Sonam Wangchuk dismissed these allegations and refuted the narrative, explaining that local political parties do not wield that level of control over the youth. In comments from Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah criticized the Centre, charging that it is “punishing” Ladakh people for political competition setbacks. Root Causes & What’s Next
Ladakh was excised as a Union Territory in 2019 after the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir. Most UTs were not as fortunate, and Ladakh was not provided with a legislative assembly, making it directly under central rule. The region has long believed that the absence of self-government, politically restricted representation, stripping of local employment and land safeguards, and ecology issues deserve a statehood status and the protection that the Sixth Schedule assures.
On the side of the government, the Ministry of Home Affairs has met Ladakh’s local representatives in several rounds of talks but with few breakthroughs. The next round of meetings is to be held on October 6.
The Human Cost
Outside property and institutions, the human cost is shocking. Four have been killed, and scores more hurt. The emotional call by Wangchuk on protestors to keep away from violence reflects the intense frustration among Ladakh’s youth. “They have been unemployed for years … this is a recipe for social unrest,” he claimed. The ecologically vulnerable, geographically remote region might bear more as trust between citizens and the administration declines.
