Protests in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, escalated into violence on Wednesday as demonstrators set fire to the local BJP office amid ongoing demands for statehood for Ladakh, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and job reservations for locals. The unrest, which follows weeks of largely peaceful demonstrations including hunger strikes led by activist Soman Wangchuk, resulted in four fatalities and approximately 70 injuries. Protesters clashed with police, pelted stones at officials, and damaged a police vehicle.
Authorities imposed a curfew in Leh and deployed additional security forces in sensitive areas to prevent further escalation. Wangchuk, who has been leading a hunger strike since September 10, described the violent incidents as a reaction to the deteriorating health of hunger strikers, while emphasizing his opposition to violence and urging the youth to pursue their demands through peaceful means.
The unrest stems from Ladakh’s status following the 2019 revocation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, which made Ladakh a Union Territory without a legislative assembly, leaving residents dissatisfied. The protests, organized under the leadership of the Leh Apex Body, involved multiple religious, social, and political groups, with the Cargill Democratic Alliance also participating.
BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that Congress played a role in inciting the violence, sharing photos and videos linking Leh Ward Congress Councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag to the unrest. He accused Congress, and specifically Rahul Gandhi, of mobilizing youth under the pretext of election issues and democracy, claiming they provoked the demonstrators to target the BJP office.