Ladakh Protests Turn Violent: 4 Dead, 50+ Injured in Leh

At least four people were killed and over 50 injured after protests over statehood and Sixth Schedule demands turned violent in Leh on Wednesday. Tensions escalated when some youth pelted stones at BJP and Hill Council offices, prompting police and paramilitary forces to use teargas to control the crowd, according to PTI.

Protestors set fire to a security vehicle, furniture, and papers in the BJP office complex. The demonstrations were triggered by demands for statehood for Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule provisions to the region.

The youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) had earlier called for a 35-day hunger strike starting September 10. Hospitalization of two participants reportedly led to the intensified protests. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, part of the ongoing agitation, ended his 15-day hunger strike and appealed for peace.

Key Details:

• The Sixth Schedule currently applies to tribal populations in Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam, providing special governance, financial powers, and autonomous councils.

• A fresh round of talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs, LAB, and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is scheduled for October 6.

• LAB and KDA have been spearheading the movement for four years, holding multiple rounds of talks with the government.

• Leh town was shut down, and protestors gathered at the NDS Memorial Ground before marching through the streets, chanting slogans for Sixth Schedule inclusion and statehood.

The situation escalated further when some youth attacked government offices, marking one of the most violent episodes in recent Ladakh agitations.