Leh – Violent protests broke out in Leh district of Ladakh on Wednesday morning after the health of two individuals supporting educationist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike worsened.
Wangchuk, who is on a 35-day hunger strike, has been demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. His movement has drawn widespread support from across the Union Territory.
In response to the deteriorating health of his supporters, hundreds of youth gathered in Leh to voice anger against the Central Government, accusing it of denying Ladakh its rights. The protests turned violent as demonstrators attempted to storm the office of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh. Police stopped them from entering, leading to stone-pelting at the premises and security personnel. Several vehicles were torched in the chaos.
Authorities used tear gas shells and baton charges to disperse the crowd. The unrest comes against the backdrop of nearly three years of talks between the Centre and Ladakh’s representative groups—the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)—over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
The KDA has announced a complete shutdown in Kargil on Thursday in solidarity with the agitation. By late evening, the situation in Leh remained tense, with heavy police deployment in both Leh and Kargil districts to prevent further escalation.
