Leh witnessed severe unrest on Wednesday as demonstrations demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent. At least four people lost their lives and over seventy were injured amid clashes between protesters and police.

The protests were led by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), part of a prolonged campaign pressing the Centre to grant Ladakh statehood and tribal autonomy. Tensions escalated after two hunger strikers, who had been fasting since September 10, were hospitalised due to deteriorating health. Following this, the youth called for a shutdown, which saw thousands take to the streets of Leh.

According to Congress leader Tsering Namgyal, “An elderly woman and a man fainted yesterday. The news spread fast, and students called for a shutdown today (Wednesday). This morning, a large number of people moved towards the anshan (hunger strike) site. The youth went out of control.”

Stone Pelting Begins at the Police

The protest quickly turned unruly as some participants began pelting stones at the police and set fire to a security vehicle outside the local BJP office, which was also torched. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges to control the crowds. Authorities subsequently imposed a curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, banning gatherings of more than five people without prior written permission.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been a prominent figure in the peaceful hunger strike, called off his 15-day fast following the violence. He urged the youth to refrain from destructive acts, stating, “Very sad events in Leh. My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.” He added, “I request the youth to stop arson and clashes. We are ending our fast, and I urge the administration to stop using tear gas. No hunger strike succeeds if lives are lost in violence.”

The unrest also led to the cancellation of the closing ceremony of the annual Ladakh Festival, disappointing many artists, cultural groups, tourists, and locals.

Since Ladakh was designated a separate Union Territory in August 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, there have been growing calls for greater autonomy. Unlike Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh lacks a legislature and is directly governed by the Centre, which many locals feel has created a political void.

The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance represent the region’s Buddhist and Muslim populations, respectively, and have jointly campaigned for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule — a constitutional provision that grants tribal areas autonomy through special district councils. Over 90% of Ladakh’s population belongs to Scheduled Tribes, strengthening their demand for these protections.

A recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in March failed to produce positive results, with local leaders alleging that he rejected their key demands. One attendee told NDTV, “During the meeting, the Home Minister told us that he had made a mistake by carving out Ladakh as a separate Union Territory. He also rejected our demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedule.”

Centre Plans Talks with Ladakh on October 6

The Centre has scheduled another round of talks with Ladakh representatives for October 6, but protesters have urged that these be held sooner due to the ongoing hunger strike and public concern.

Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the BJP for delaying the restoration of statehood in the region. Speaking to ANI, he said, “People participated in the election process. It is the BJP’s bad luck that they couldn’t win. However, people here can’t be punished for that… It seems like statehood is not being provided to the people since the BJP didn’t form the government. It is unfair to people.” He also asserted, “The opposition to statehood is coming from the BJP.”

As protests continue, many in Ladakh remain determined to achieve political recognition and constitutional safeguards that they believe are vital for protecting their cultural heritage, environment, and rights.