Statehood protest in Leh, Ladakh turned violent, leaving four dead in police firing and the BJP office set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, leading the movement, urged the youth to “stop this nonsense” amid rising tensions.
Four individuals died and over 50 were injured in Leh on Wednesday when police opened fire after protests demanding statehood and the extension of Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh turned violent.
The BJP office in Leh was also set ablaze during the unrest.
In the wake of the violence, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for 35 days in support of the demands for Ladakh, ended his fast. The Leh administration has imposed restrictions on gatherings of four or more people as a precautionary measure.
This turmoil occurred just days before scheduled talks between the Centre and the Leh Apex Body on October 6, which would be the first in four months. Sources from the Centre indicated that the government wanted Wangchuk excluded from the discussions, viewing him as an impediment.
Wangchuk expressed that the community was frustrated, stating,
“Next elections are about to happen and they (the Centre) are yet to fulfil promises made in the last elections.”
He mentioned that they were anticipating a high-level delegation from the Home Ministry to meet them in Ladakh on Thursday.
On Wednesday, a shutdown was initiated by student and youth organizations in support of the calls for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections. This strike followed the hospitalization of a 72-year-old and a 62-year-old who had been on hunger strike alongside Wangchuk and collapsed.
In a press conference after the violence, Wangchuk described how thousands of peaceful protesters were gathered at the fast site for prayers and speeches when a big group of young people broke away and marched out raising slogans.
He later learned that these youths had gone on a rampage and attacked offices, police vehicles, and the BJP office.
Expressing regret over the fatalities from police fire, Wangchuk stated they were still trying to confirm the number of injured. He attributed the unrest to a “pent-up anger of the last five-six years,” referring to the protesters as “Gen Z,” and called for calm. His reference to “Gen Z” appeared to Bring up recent violent protests in Nepal, which culminated in a governmental change.
Police sources in Leh confirmed the deaths, stating that four individuals died as security forces attempted to disperse the crowd. A police officer informed media that 56 were injured, with five in critical condition, adding that “most of the people have bullet and pellet injuries.”
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced support for the protesters, claiming that,
“Ladakh feels betrayed by the Centre, similar to the sentiments in J&K.”
He tweeted,
“Ladakh wasn’t even promised Statehood, they celebrated UT status in 2019 & they feel betrayed & angry. Now try to imagine how betrayed & disappointed we in J&K feel when the promise of statehood to J&K remains unfulfilled even though we have gone about demanding it democratically, peacefully & responsibly.”
Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti argued it was time for the Centre to move beyond crisis management.”
She stated,
“It’s time the Government of India undertakes a sincere and thorough appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019… Leh, a region long known for its peaceful and measured protests, is now witnessing a disturbing shift toward violent demonstrations.”
Wangchuk acknowledged the sentiments of the protesters but insisted, “this (the violence) was not the right way,” emphasizing that the struggle must be fought with “peace and struggle.”
He noted the impatience among the youth, who expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of peaceful protests.
“They would tell us they had seen the results of the peaceful path taken by us, that they don’t believe in it… But we didn’t expect something like this.”
Regarding the decision to end his hunger strike, Wangchuk remarked,
“If we continue, we fear more people will fall seriously ill, there will be more anger and there could be an explosive situation… It can also bring instability on the borders of the country.”
The Kargil Democratic Alliance also expressed solidarity with the protesters, stating that the bandh highlighted the “failure” of the Union Territory model.
Statehood means giving a Union Territory (UT) the full status of a State within the Indian Union. A state has its own legislature, government, and more autonomy, while a Union Territory is directly governed by the Centre (some UTs have legislatures with limited powers, like Delhi and Puducherry).
In the case of Ladakh, it was carved out of Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, and made into a Union Territory without a legislature. The demand for statehood is basically a demand for:
- An elected legislature and government,
- Representation in law-making on local matters,
- Protection of land, jobs, and culture, which many fear are at risk under direct Central control.
Constitutional Provisions Related to Statehood
The Constitution provides mechanisms for creating, reorganising, or granting statehood under Article 2 and Article 3:
- Article 2 – Parliament may admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
- Article 3 – Parliament can:
- Form a new State by separation of territory from any State, or by uniting two or more States/UTs,Increase or decrease the area of any State,Alter the boundaries or name of any State.
- Article 239A & 239AA – Provide for legislatures in certain Union Territories (Puducherry and Delhi).
- Delhi (Article 239AA): Has a legislative assembly with powers over subjects except police, land, and public order.
- Puducherry (Article 239A): Has a legislature with limited powers.
- Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 – Reduced J&K from a State to a UT (with legislature) and made Ladakh a UT (without legislature). Ladakh’s statehood demand is essentially for reversing that downgrade and getting representation like a full State.
The statehood issue in Ladakh arises from the region’s current status as a Union Territory without a legislature, following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir.
Local residents, particularly in Leh, demand full statehood to gain self-governance through an elected legislative assembly and government, which would allow them to make local laws, plan development, and secure more political representation.
They also seek protection of land, jobs, and culture, fearing migration and loss of local identity under direct Central administration.
Statehood would enable better funding and autonomy for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and tourism, while giving the people of Ladakh a stronger voice in Parliament. Currently, as a UT, all powers rest with the centrally appointed Lieutenant Governor, leaving locals with limited control over their own affairs.
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is a special provision that gives autonomous powers of self-governance to certain tribal areas in the North-Eastern states of India.
It was included to protect the rights, culture, and traditions of tribal communities and to give them control over their own local governance, land, and resources.