At least four people were killed and over 50 injured in Leh on Wednesday in a protest called by the Youth Wing of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) over demand for Statehood and the Sixth Schedule for the region.
Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP made the Article 370 move, splitting Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Ever since, the people of Ladakh, comprising the districts of Buddhist-majority Leh and Kargil, predominantly Muslim, have been demanding Statehood and the Sixth Schedule for the region to protect its unique identity.
A High-Powered Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, has held several rounds of talks with the Ladakh leaders represented by LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) since 2023. The LAB and KDA represent the political and religious bodies of Leh and Kargil.
Ladakh statehood demand
The Centre has accepted most of the demands of Ladakh leaders covering domicile, jobs, land and culture. However, the issue of Statehood and Sixth Schedule has proved intractable so far. The Centre has expressed willingness to grant provisions of the Sixth Schedule that apply to Ladakh, but bringing Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule has been ruled out, along with Statehood.
Violence erupted after two people who were part of a 35-day hunger strike started by Sonam Wangchuk, noted climate activist and educator, on 10 September, were hospitalised due to deteriorating health. Irate mobs ran amok, setting fire to a police van and a local BJP office.
The police tried to disperse the mob with tear-smoke shells and baton charges. As the violent protests continued, paramilitary troops were called in to restore order.
Wangchuk had cautioned the Centre to hold talks immediately in view of the ongoing hunger strike, saying a 16-day gap was too long for them to wait. He had warned that the youth were getting impatient with the Centre’s approach and hoped that nothing untoward happened that would become a “cause of embarrassment for India.”
Soon after the death of protesters and unrest in Leh, Wangchuk called off his hunger strike and appealed for calm. He stressed that no hunger strike succeeds if lives are lost in violence.
'Gen Z, who are restless and disillusioned'
At a press conference on Wednesday, he said he condemned the violence, describing the agitators as “Gen Z, who are restless and disillusioned.” He said the government’s invitation for talks on 6 October had angered the youth:
“Last time, when the Centre wanted to hold talks with Ladakh leaders, a special plane was sent to Leh to carry them to Delhi immediately. This time, a 16-day delay, in the middle of a hunger strike, was too long a time for those on hunger strike.”
He said that the government has not contacted them since the deaths of the protesters:
“After this tragedy, there has been no communication from the government. This silence is deeply disappointing.”
Responding to allegations that a Congress leader had provoked the protests, Wangchuk said that the two youth whose health deteriorated during the hunger strike belonged to that leader’s constituency.
He also voiced concern about the wider crisis facing young people in Ladakh since its Union Territory status:
“Since Ladakh became a UT, our youth are suffering from a lack of jobs and opportunities.”
Ladakh under curfew
To maintain calm, the Union administration in Leh, Ladakh imposed a curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, immediately banning protests and gatherings in Leh. An assembly of five or more people was banned, with no procession, rally or march to be carried out without prior written approval in Leh, an official order said.
The KDA has called for a strike in Kargil tomorrow over the killings in Leh.“Whatever is happening in Leh is unfortunate. Ladakh, once peaceful, is now gripped by frustration and insecurity due to the government’s failed UT experiment.
The onus lies with the government — resume dialogue, act sensibly and fulfil Ladakh’s demand for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status without delay,” said Sajad Kargili, a leader of KDA.
The unsettling situation has cast a shadow on the upcoming Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections in Leh in October.