Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk lamented the deaths during the violent protest demanding statehood for Ladakh on Wednesday and said what was witnessed in the Valley today was the result of welled up anger of Ladakh's youth.
At least four people died and over 50 people suffered injuries in the violent protests in Ladakh on Wednesday. The protest, announced by the youth wing of the Ladakh Apex Body demanding statehood and implementation of the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh, turned violent, leading to clashes with police in Leh. The youth wing announced the protest after two youngsters who were on hunger strike from September 10 were hospitalised after their health condition deteriorated.
The violent protest erupted while talks were scheduled between the apex body and Centre on October 6. The peaceful protest turned violent when some protesters pelted stones at the Bharatiya Janata Party's office and set fire to vehicles. Police and security personnel lobbed teargas and lathi-charged protesters to disperse the crowd. Curfew was imposed in Leh after the protests turned violent.
Thupstan Tswang, Chairman of the apex body of Ladakh, said the martyrdom of youths wouldn't go in vain. "We have been running a movement here for a long time on four issues of Ladakh. There were some incidents that led to acts of violence. I want to assure the people of Ladakh that we will not let the sacrifices made by these young people today go to waste," ANI reported.
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Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his hunger strike after the protests turned violent on Wednesday. Wangchuk said widespread unemployment and exclusion of youth from jobs led to the violent protest. "I've always said that this is the recipe for social unrest: keeping young people unemployed and snatching away their democratic rights," Wangchuk said. Wangchuk added though he understands the youth's pain, he doesn't agree with violent protests.