Ladakh youth protests for statehood turn violent
LADAKH – After at least four people were killed in violent clashes between police and protesters demanding statehood for the federal territory, remains under heavy security lockdown. Dozens more were injured in the unrest, including both demonstrators and law enforcement personnel, as tensions reached a boiling point in the high-altitude Himalayan region.
The protests, led largely by Gen Z activists and students, erupted on Wednesday following the collapse of two elderly participants in a hunger strike. The strike, spearheaded by renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, had entered its fifteenth day and was part of a broader campaign calling for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This provision offers tribal regions special autonomy and protections, which many Ladakhis believe are essential to preserving their fragile ecosystem, cultural identity, and political voice.
Wangchuk’s peaceful protest had drawn widespread support from local organizations, including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance. However, the sudden health crisis among elder strikers triggered a wave of frustration among younger supporters. Youth groups called for a complete shutdown in Leh, and a breakaway faction of protesters marched toward government buildings, culminating in the torching of the regional office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as police attempted to disperse the crowd. Tear gas was fired, and baton charges were reported. Protest coordinators claimed that security forces opened fire, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals. Authorities confirmed injuries among dozens of police personnel and have since imposed a curfew in Leh, with additional armed forces deployed to maintain order.
The BJP has accused opposition figures of inciting the violence, specifically naming Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag. In contrast, Wangchuk denied any political orchestration, calling the uprising an “organic Gen-Z revolution” driven by years of economic stagnation, environmental neglect, and broken promises.
“This is not about party politics,” Wangchuk said in a public statement. “This is about survival, dignity, and the future of Ladakh’s youth.”
The protests have drawn attention across India and internationally, with civil society groups urging the government to engage in dialogue and reconsider Ladakh’s constitutional status. Since the region was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019, many residents have voiced concerns over the lack of legislative autonomy and safeguards for land, jobs, and cultural preservation.
As the situation remains volatile, calls for peace and meaningful negotiation continue to grow. Community leaders have urged restraint, while youth groups vow to keep pressing for their demands through nonviolent means.