ALBAWABA- At least four people were killed and 30 others injured after youth-led protests demanding statehood for Ladakh spiraled into violence on Tuesday, with demonstrators setting fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Leh.
A vehicle parked nearby was also torched as police fired teargas shells and used baton charges to disperse the crowd, eyewitnesses said.
The unrest, which has spread across Ladakh and into neighboring Uttarakhand, erupted amid renewed calls for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The escalation comes just days before a scheduled round of talks between Ladakhi representatives and the Union government, raising concerns about fragile negotiations.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB), which has spearheaded the movement, called for a shutdown in response to the clashes.
The violence marked the most serious flare-up since Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended a 15-day hunger strike after the violence, urged youth to remain peaceful and not derail the five-year movement. “We must protest with dignity and patience if we want our voices to be heard,” he said in a message posted online.
Protesters have long demanded full statehood for Ladakh and protection under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard tribal rights, cultural identity, and the region’s fragile ecology.
The Modi government has yet to make concessions, fueling frustration among locals who accuse New Delhi of ignoring their concerns while tightening central control.
