At least four people were killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday when protests in India-held Ladakh spiraled into violence, according to local sources. Demonstrators demanding statehood for the federally administered territory and job quotas for residents clashed with police in Leh, triggering a deadly confrontation.
The Himalayan region, a Buddhist-Muslim enclave, lost its autonomy in 2019 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government split Ladakh from the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir and placed it under New Delhi’s direct administration. Since then, calls for statehood and constitutional safeguards have grown louder, with protesters insisting that Ladakh be granted special status and elected local bodies to protect its tribal character.
Wednesday’s violence came amid a protest campaign led by prominent environmentalist and activist Sonam Wangchuk. Demonstrators torched several buildings, including the office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Leh, while an abandoned police vehicle was also set ablaze. Television footage broadcast across India showed flames engulfing the vehicle as tear gas clouds filled the streets.
Thupstan Tswang, chairman of the Leh Apex Body, confirmed the deaths of several demonstrators. “During this violence, 2–3 of our youth have died for our cause… I want to reassure the people of Ladakh that we will not let the sacrifices of these youth go to waste. We will keep trying to get our demands fulfilled,” he said, vowing that the movement for statehood would continue.
Police officials reported that more than 50 people were injured in the clashes, including at least 20 security personnel. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as young men hurled stones at police, who responded with batons and tear gas. A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed “growing frustration among the youth” for the outbreak of violence.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for two weeks to press Ladakh’s demands, announced an end to his fast following the violence. “This is not a solution to Ladakh’s problem,” he said. “If our youth have sorrow and pain that we are on hunger strike, then we are breaking our hunger strike from today.” Wangchuk urged young people to avoid violence, stressing that the movement must remain peaceful despite the heavy losses.
The unrest marks one of the deadliest episodes since Ladakh’s autonomy was revoked, underscoring the growing discontent in the strategic border region, which is home to both Buddhist and Muslim communities and shares frontiers with China and Pakistan.
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