Ladakh statehood protest: Violence leaves 4 dead, several injured

Leh: The agitation for statehood in Ladakh spiralled into violence on Wednesday, leaving four people dead and at least 45 others injured, including 22 police personnel, reported PTI. Officials warned that the toll could rise further as several of the injured remain critical.

As clashes, arson and stone-pelting spread through the Ladakh capital, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his two-week-long hunger strike demanding statehood and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule.

The day began with a complete shutdown in Leh following a protest call by the youth wing of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB). Crowds gathered at the NDS memorial ground before marching through the streets. By afternoon, the BJP office and several vehicles were torched, with flames and thick smoke visible from afar. The police and paramilitary forces responded with teargas shells and firing after protesters turned violent, officials said.

Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of more than five people were imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Congress leader and councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag was also booked for allegedly making a provocative speech a day earlier at the protest venue.

The immediate flashpoint was the deteriorating health of two hunger strikers — Tsering Angchuk (72) and Tashi Dolma (60) — who had been on a 35-day fast since September 10. They were shifted to hospital on Tuesday evening, sparking anger among supporters. The protesters have been pressing the Centre to hold talks on four demands: statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and employment reservations.

Addressing his supporters online, Wangchuk appealed for calm and announced that he was ending his fast. “I request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith as it only causes harm to our cause and further deteriorates the situation. We do not want instability in Ladakh and the country,” he said, even as the sound of teargas shells echoed in the background.

Calling it the most distressing day of his campaign, he remarked: “This is the saddest day for Ladakh and for myself personally because the path we are treading for the last five years was peaceful… We held hunger strikes on five occasions and walked from Leh to Delhi but today we are seeing our message of peace failing because of the incidents of violence and arson.”

He urged the administration to halt teargas shelling and asked the government to adopt a more sensitive approach. “We are ending our fast immediately… the aim of the hunger strike is not fulfilled if our youth lose their lives.”

“It is time to carry forward the dialogue with a cool mind. We will keep our agitation non-violent and I also want to ask the government to listen to our message of peace… when the message of peace is ignored, such a situation arises,” Wangchuk added.

The activist blamed the unrest on frustration among Ladakhi youth, citing lack of job opportunities and unfulfilled promises. “There is no democracy in Ladakh and the Sixth Schedule promise made to the public has not been fulfilled,” he said.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides special powers to tribal-majority areas in the northeast, including autonomous councils with legislative, judicial and financial authority. Protesters have long demanded similar provisions for Ladakh.

After months of deadlock, the Centre invited representatives of the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for talks on October 6. The two groups, which have jointly led the agitation for four years, last held discussions with the government in May.

Former MP and LAB chairperson Thupstan Chhewang, who had stepped down after the May talks, has returned to lead the joint delegation. The Congress recently withdrew from the LAB after some members argued that the panel should remain non-political in view of the upcoming Leh Hill Council elections.
(With PTI Inputs)