Leh city in Ladakh witnessed unprecedented violence this morning as angry protesters demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards clashed with police. Demonstrators pelted stones at officials, set the Ladakh BJP headquarters on fire, and burnt down a police vehicle, marking the first such violent incident during the ongoing statehood movement.
Hundreds of protesters, who had been observing a hunger strike and enforcing a complete shutdown today, took to the streets in large numbers. Police responded with tear gas shelling and lathi-charge to disperse the agitated crowd.
The clashes unfolded just weeks ahead of talks with the central government, which has scheduled a meeting with Ladakh representatives on October 6 to address the region’s demands.
Growing Unrest Over Statehood and Sixth Schedule
For the past two weeks, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike in Leh, demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
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Since being carved out as a separate Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh has faced growing discontent. Residents argue that direct central rule has left a political vacuum under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, sparking fears over land, culture, and resource protection.
This discontent has united political and religious groups from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil under joint platforms like the Apex Body of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. Despite several rounds of talks with the centre, including a March meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, no breakthrough has been achieved.
