Unrest in Ladakh: Protesters Set BJP Office on Fire Amid Statehood Demands

Ladakh: A protest demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent on Wednesday. Angry protesters set fire to the local BJP office and a security vehicle parked outside, leading to a tense standoff with the police.

Authorities responded by firing tear gas shells and using batons to control the large crowd.

The situation worsened as demonstrators called on the central government to move forward with proposed talks involving the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The next round of negotiations between the central government and Ladakhi representatives is scheduled for October 6.

The protest was organized by the youth wing of the LAB. The call to protest came after two of the 15 individuals on a 35-day hunger strike were hospitalized on Tuesday evening due to their deteriorating health. The hunger strike is being led by well-known environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is a key voice in the movement for statehood and special constitutional protections for Ladakh.

Expressing his disappointment with the violence, Sonam Wangchuk posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Today’s events in Leh are truly unfortunate. My message of peaceful protest has failed. I appeal to the youth to stop the violence, as it harms our cause.”

In response to the growing unrest, the local administration canceled the final day and closing ceremony of the four-day annual “Ladakh Festival.” A statement from the Department of Information and Public Relations said, “This decision has been made due to unavoidable circumstances. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to all local artists, cultural groups, tourists, and the public and appeal for their cooperation.”

Additional security forces have been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control, and security has been tightened throughout the city.