Leh, Sep 24, KNT: Four people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes in Leh town of Ladakh, when protests demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards escalated into a confrontation with security forces.
The violence broke out during a shutdown call and ongoing hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, as hundreds of protesters took to the streets to press their demands.
The incident marked the first major outbreak of violence during the Ladakh statehood movement, which had largely remained peaceful until then.
According to reports, clashes intensified after protesters allegedly attacked a political office and several vehicles, including those belonging to police, prompting security forces to resort to firing to bring the situation under control. The protesters also torched the BJP office.
The protests were part of a broader agitation seeking statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard land, jobs, and cultural identity.
The unrest unfolded against the backdrop of proposed talks between Ladakh-based groups, including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, and the central government.
Ladakh, which was carved out as a separate Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, has since witnessed growing demands for political safeguards and elected governance.
Initial support for Union Territory status in Leh gradually gave way to concerns over administrative control and lack of legislative representation, leading to sustained protests across both Leh and Kargil regions.
The clashes intensified political pressure on the Centre and became a defining moment in the ongoing movement, shaping subsequent protests, negotiations, and demands. [KNT]
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