The Indian government has imposed a curfew in Leh, the capital of the Himalayan region of Ladakh, after protests over the restoration of statehood turned violent. At least four people were killed in clashes with police on Wednesday.
According to the BBC, protesters set fire to a local BJP office and a police vehicle during the unrest. Police reported that at least 30 officers were injured in the clashes.
The Indian central government has blamed environmentalist and educator Sonam Wangchuk for inciting violence, claiming his speeches encouraged the crowd to take to violent action. Wangchuk, however, has denied the allegations, stating that he had been on a hunger strike since September 12 and had called for calm. He cited long-standing unemployment and frustration among youth as the main reasons behind the protests.
Ladakh, home to centuries-old Muslim and Buddhist communities, became a union territory in 2019 after the BJP-led government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, locals have demanded restoration of statehood, with the predominantly Buddhist Leh region seeking autonomy, while the Muslim-majority Kargil district prefers re-integration with Jammu and Kashmir.
The Wednesday violence occurred amidst ongoing protests in recent months, though authorities have yet to determine exactly how the clashes began. The central Ministry of Home Affairs claimed Wangchuk referenced the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen-Z protests in his speech, which allegedly escalated the situation beyond control.
Authorities reported that protesters set fire to the BJP office, torched a police vehicle, and forced officers to open fire, resulting in fatalities. Wangchuk, a well-known environmentalist, social activist, and engineering educator, has long campaigned for Ladakh’s statehood, greater local political power, and cultural and land rights. He argued that revocation of the region’s special status has left locals uncertain about their future and vulnerable to external economic interests.
The government maintains that it has been holding regular dialogue with local leaders since 2023 and that significant progress has been made. Officials noted that several meetings have taken place with Wangchuk and other protesters, though some politically motivated individuals have resisted the outcomes.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, R.K. Gupta, confirmed an investigation into the violence has begun. He noted that agitation had been deliberately fueled over the past two days, with comparisons made to protests in Bangladesh and Nepal, suggesting possible conspiratorial motives. Authorities plan further talks with protesters on Thursday and Friday, while a central government-appointed committee is scheduled to meet local leaders on October 6.
