Leh Protest Explainer: Curfew continued on Thursday in Leh town after four protesters were killed and 40 injured in a clash with the security forces a day earlier when unruly mobs torched vehicles, burnt down the local BJP office, and partially gutted the office of the hill council.
Congress leader and councillor, Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, has been booked for allegedly making a provocative speech at the hunger strike venue on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blamed the hunger strikers, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, for inciting Wednesday's violence.
Now, the question arises what happened in Leh on Wednesday? Continue reading below to know all about Leh Gen Z Protest-
The BJP office, Leh Hill Council office and CRPF Gypsy were torched by an unruly mob and several vehicles were damaged in stone pelting, which prompted police and paramilitary personnel to open fire and use tear-smoke and baton charge to prevent further damage to the Government property as well as the lives of security personnel and other persons.
The Youth Wing of Leh Apex Body (LAB) fast was to push the Centre to hold early dialogue instead of the October 6 proposed meeting in support of their four-point demands -- Statehood, extension of Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil and reservation for employment.
The LAB of Leh and KDA of Kargil had been jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of their demands and had held several rounds of talks with the MHA in the past.
Tension had been building up since Tuesday evening.
Former MP and LAB chairperson Thupstan Chhewang, who had resigned from the body after the last round of talks on May 27, has returned to the helm and is likely to lead the joint delegation during the negotiations.
The Congress opted out of the LAB after some constituents expressed the view that the LAB delegation should be non-political in view of the Leh Hill Council elections next month.
Meanwhile, the four-day annual Ladakh festival was cancelled on the last day on Thursday following the violence.
Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Kavinder Gupta was scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of the festival, which started here on Sunday.
Police said that the situation is peaceful in Leh town as restrictions imposed by the DM are being strictly imposed. After Wednesday's violence, L-G Gupta warned miscreants of serious action as he expressed solidarity with the people of Ladakh, whom he called peaceful and law-abiding.
Reacting to the violence, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said on X, "At a press conference yesterday, Congress councillor from Saspol, Smanla Dorjey Norboo, openly challenged the administration, daring them to deploy more CRPF personnel and insisting that even a larger security presence would not stop demonstrators from reaching the BJP Ladakh office and dragging people out."
"He went on to say that he would personally come to stone the BJP Ladakh office, and he urged people from across Ladakh to travel to Leh on 24 September to carry out the attack. On 24 September, a mob subsequently set fire to the BJP Ladakh office," Malviya added.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued a statement regarding the law and order situation in Leh town wherein the MHA has squarely blamed the provocative statements made by climate activist, Sonam Wangchuk and others sitting on hunger strike in the town for inciting violence.
The MHA statement said: “A hunger strike was started by Sh Sonam Wangchuk on 10-09-2025 stating the demand of 6th schedule and statehood for Ladakh. It is well known that Government of India has been actively engaged with Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance.
“Series of meetings were held with them through formal channel of High Powered Committee as well as Sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with leaders. The process of dialogue through this mechanism has yielded phenomenal results by increasing reservations for Ladakh scheduled tribe from 45 per cent to 84 per cent, providing 1/3 women reservations in the councils and declaring Bhoti and Purgi as official languages."
It further said: “With this, process for recruitment of 1800 posts was also commenced. However, certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made under HPC has been trying to sabotage the dialogue process.
“The next meeting of High Powered Committee has been scheduled on 6th October while meetings are also planned on 25th and 26th September with the leaders from Ladakh. The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike he continued with the hunger strike and misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal."
It further said that “Barring a few unfortunate incidents that happened early in the day, the situation is brought under control by 4 pm. It is clear that the mob was guided by Shri Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements. Incidentally, amidst these developments, he called off his hunger strike. The Government stands committed to the aspiration of people of Ladakh by providing adequate constitutional safeguards."
From: IANS
