As the protest demanding statehood for Ladakh took a violent turn on Wednesday, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his 15-day hunger strike and urged everyone to maintain peace in the Union territory.
Saying the violence will only damage their demand for statehood, Wangchuk urged the protesters to stop the violent attacks and maintain peace in Ladakh. "My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause," Wangchcuk said in a post on X.
VERY SAD EVENTS IN LEH
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 24, 2025
My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.#LadakhAnshan pic.twitter.com/CzTNHoUkoC
The protest by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding talks with the Centre on the extension of the Sixth Schedule and statehood for Leh and the Ladakh region turned violent after a few protesters pelted stones at the BJP office. Violent protesters set fire to vehicles, and police lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
"I request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith as it only causes harm to our cause and further deteriorates the situation. We do not want instability in Ladakh and the country," Wangchuk told supporters who gathered at his protest venue.
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The protest comes as a fresh round of talks was scheduled with the Centre on October 6. Responding to the protest call by the youth wing, Leh town was shut down, and large crowds assembled at the NDS memorial ground and later took out a march through the streets of the town, chanting slogans in support of the Sixth Schedule and statehood.
Reinforcements were rushed to the scene and the situation was brought under control after several hours of intense clashes, officials monitoring the situation added.
