LEH, LADAKH – In what is being described as the most violent unrest in the region since 1989, clashes between protesters and Indian security forces in Ladakh left at least four dead and dozens wounded on Wednesday, as youth activists and local bodies renewed demands for full statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule protections.
The violence erupted in Leh after weeks of simmering tension. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike demanding constitutional guarantees and political autonomy, called off his fast amid mounting chaos. Two of the 15 hunger strikers had been hospitalized after their health deteriorated, prompting the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to call a shutdown protest that spiraled into confrontation.
In Leh, demonstrators set fire to the local BJP office and a police/CRPF van, while police responded with tear gas, baton charges, and ultimately live fire, saying they acted in self-defence. The administration, citing law and order concerns, imposed a curfew and banned gatherings under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, which prohibits assemblies of five or more persons without permission.
The suicide-by-fire turned the long-standing demands of Ladakh’s people into a national flashpoint. Under the 2019 reorganisation, Ladakh was carved out of Jammu & Kashmir and designated a union territory without its own legislature, leaving locals feeling that their voice and autonomy were curtailed. The protesters argue that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, which grants tribal areas special governance, land, and self-rule protections, is essential to preserve their identity, protect land rights, and prevent demographic change.
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta (appointed earlier this year) has defended the police action and alleged a “conspiracy” behind the unrest, claiming that provocations and external instigation drove the protests to violence. Meanwhile, the central government has blamed Wangchuk for inciting the protesters through statements likening the movement to Arab Spring or Gen-Z uprisings in Nepal, emphasizing that the security forces acted under duress.
Political voices from Jammu & Kashmir have joined in condemnation: Omar Abdullah accused the central government of “punishing” Ladakh for electoral setbacks, and demanded that New Delhi treat these demands with urgency and fairness.
Despite the bloodshed, both sides have signalled an upcoming meeting: talks between the central government and Ladakhi representatives are scheduled for October 6, though many protesters , including Wangchuk, have urged for an earlier dialogue, claiming patience has run out.
As Ladakh reels under these tragic events, the region stands at a crossroads: whether New Delhi responds with force or engages in genuine constitutional reform may well decide the future of peace in the Himalayas, and whether the demands of its youth will be met or suppressed under the barrel of a gun as usual.
