Leh, Ladakh (BN24)— Protests in India’s Ladakh region seeking statehood and greater autonomy turned violent on Wednesday, with reports of deadly clashes between demonstrators and police. Activists claimed that police gunfire killed at least three to five people, although official figures have yet to be confirmed.
The unrest erupted when youth groups called for a shutdown in Leh, the capital of the strategically important region. The protests, which are part of a growing movement advocating for statehood and more control over local governance, saw demonstrators set fire to a paramilitary vehicle and the office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Police responded by firing tear gas and charging protesters with batons, leaving dozens injured. Residents reported that several of the wounded were in critical condition, though the exact number remains unclear.
Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent local activist who had been on a hunger strike for two weeks to demand more autonomy for Ladakh, spoke to the Indian Express, saying that three to five people are feared dead after police opened fire on the crowd. “We have reports that many people have been injured, but we don’t know the exact count,” Wangchuk said. Al Jazeera could not independently verify these casualty figures.
In the wake of the violence, authorities imposed a ban on gatherings of more than five people in Leh and urged calm. District Administrator Romil Singh Donk issued a public notice forbidding protests, inflammatory speeches, and public gatherings.
The demands behind the protests stem from Ladakh’s loss of autonomy in 2019, when it was reorganized into a federal territory under direct control from New Delhi, following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. Protesters are calling for the region to be granted special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would allow for the creation of local bodies to protect tribal areas and give residents a larger role in governing land and agricultural decisions.
Wangchuk, whose hunger strike aimed to raise awareness for the cause, called for restraint following the violence, urging youth to abandon further acts of aggression. “My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to the youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause,” he said.
Local leaders and activists have been vocal about their frustration with the federal government’s inability to address their concerns. Talks between Ladakh’s political leaders and representatives from New Delhi have repeatedly failed to produce results, and another round of discussions is set for October 6.
The region, which shares a long border with China, holds significant strategic importance for India. In 2020, Ladakh became the site of deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops, further heightening tensions in the area. Despite these strains, India and China have been working to improve relations in recent months, especially after the economic fallout from the U.S.-China trade war.
Credit: Al Jazeera
