Ladakh: Four Dead In Violent Protests, Congress Leader Booked; Sonam Wangchuk Blamed For Unrest

Ladakh witnessed its worst bout of political violence in recent years as protests demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards spiraled into deadly clashes in Leh.

At least four people lost their lives and around 90 sustained injuries, prompting authorities to impose curfew in the district, according to NDTV.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, CRPF, and local police were deployed to restore order, while restrictions were also enforced in Kargil following a shutdown call.

During the unrest, angry crowds torched the BJP office in Ladakh and the Ladakh Hill Council Secretariat.

The BJP quickly blamed the Congress for fuelling the violence, releasing images it claimed showed Congress Councilor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag among the mob.

An FIR has since been filed, naming him for alleged involvement in arson and rioting.

The Ministry of Home Affairs directly held climate activist Sonam Wangchuk responsible, accusing him of instigating the mob through his provocative speech.

Wangchuk, who had been on a 15 day hunger strike demanding statehood, ended his fast after the violence broke out.

The MHA claimed he invoked Nepal’s recent Gen Z protests and even referenced “Arab Spring-style protest,” misleading the public despite appeals to withdraw his strike.

“It is clear that the mob was incited by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements,” the ministry said.

Ladakh’s discontent has grown steadily since it became a Union Territory in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. While the move was initially welcomed, concerns over political exclusion and lack of safeguards quickly surfaced.

Groups from Leh and Kargil formed a rare joint front, the Apex Body of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, to press for their demands.

Talks with the Centre, including a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this year, have collapsed without progress.

“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,” one Ladakhi leader was quoted as saying to NDTV.

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