Violence erupted in Ladakh today as protests for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule turned deadly, leaving four people dead and at least 45 injured, including 22 police personnel. Government sources alleged that the unrest was deliberately engineered, accusing activist Sonam Wangchuk of pursuing personal ambitions and drawing parallels with Arab Spring-style protests. They claimed the youth were misled for political and personal gain, while Congress leaders’ remarks further fuelled tensions.
The Centre pointed out that a high-powered committee meeting with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had already been scheduled for October 6, with proposals to advance it to late September. “When talks were lined up, why provoke violence in a peaceful region?” officials asked.
As the situation worsened, a BJP office was torched and CRPF personnel were attacked. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said a mob attempted to burn security men inside a vehicle. Wangchuk, who ended his two-week hunger strike today, appealed to youth to shun violence, calling it the “saddest day” for Ladakh. He urged both sides to return to dialogue, stressing that the agitation must remain peaceful to achieve its goals.