Leh: Tragedy struck Leh on Wednesday as violent clashes erupted between protesters and security forces, leaving four people dead and many others injured. The confrontation came amid an ongoing statehood movement in Ladakh, which has intensified in recent weeks with hunger strikes and calls for a complete shutdown to press the demand for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
According to officials, tensions escalated when hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets this morning. The protesters, agitated over perceived delays in addressing their demands, attacked a BJP office and damaged several vehicles, including one belonging to the police. In response, security personnel resorted to firing to regain control of the situation, marking the first major instance of violence during the current statehood agitation.
The clashes unfolded against the backdrop of pending negotiations between the Leh Apex Body and the Union Government. Authorities have scheduled talks with representatives of the region on October 6 to discuss the demands of the people of Ladakh. Over the past two weeks, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been observing a hunger strike, calling for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to ensure constitutional protections for the region’s land, culture, and resources.
Ladakh, carved out as a separate Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, initially witnessed widespread support for the move. However, residents soon expressed growing dissatisfaction with the administration under the Lieutenant Governor, citing a political vacuum and lack of representation. This discontent has fueled large-scale protests and hunger strikes across Leh and Kargil, with political and religious groups from both Buddhist-majority and Muslim-majority areas uniting under the joint platform of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions with the Centre, including a high-level committee and meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this year, no breakthrough has been achieved. Local leaders have claimed that their core demands, including statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, were rejected during talks. One leader stated that during a March meeting, the Home Minister remarked that carving out Ladakh as a separate Union Territory had been a mistake and dismissed the demand for statehood.
Wednesday’s violence underscores the growing frustration and impatience among Ladakhis who feel their voices remain unheard. The administration has called for calm and urged residents to allow law enforcement to restore order, but the deadly clashes have raised concerns about further unrest in the strategically important region. Security forces have increased their presence in Leh and surrounding areas to prevent escalation, even as local leaders continue to press for political recognition and constitutional safeguards.
The incident marks a turning point in the statehood movement, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and resolution before tensions spiral further, threatening both public safety and the fragile political stability of the Union Territory.