A protest in Leh, the capital of the Indian occupied region of Ladakh, turned deadly on Wednesday as demonstrators demanding statehood and constitutional protections clashed with police. The violence resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, marking a significant escalation in tensions that have been simmering since the region's special status was revoked in 2019 .
The protests were part of a long standing movement seeking statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a provision that grants autonomy to tribal areas over land, resources, and local governance . The immediate trigger for Wednesday's unrest was the deteriorating health of individuals, including prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike to press these demands . While the protest began as a large gathering, it escalated when a group of demonstrators set fire to a vehicle belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the local office of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . Police responded with tear gas, baton charges, and, according to multiple reports, live fire .
Authorities have confirmed casualties but provided varying figures. While initial police statements reported "dozens" injured , other sources confirmed four fatalities . Following the clashes, district authorities imposed a ban on public gatherings of more than four or five people under Section 163 of the BNSS to prevent further unrest . The local administration also curtailed the annual Ladakh Festival, citing unavoidable circumstances .
The roots of the conflict date back to August 2019, when the Indian government revoked the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two union territories, placing Ladakh under the direct control of the central government in New Delhi . This move stripped the region of its legislative assembly and promised safeguards, leading to widespread feelings of political disenfranchisement and fears about the erosion of land rights and cultural identity for its predominantly tribal population . Despite multiple rounds of talks between Ladakhi leadership and the Indian government, the core demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections remain unfulfilled, with the next round of discussions scheduled for October 6 .
The situation in Ladakh reflects wider regional tensions. The region borders both China and Pakistan, and its strategic importance to India has grown . The protests in Leh occurred against a backdrop of heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan, which have included reciprocal drone incursions and airspace violations in recent months . Furthermore, the sentiment in Ladakh resonates with discontent in Indian-occupied Kashmir, where protests were also held on the sixth anniversary of the revocation of Article 370, demanding the restoration of statehood .