Ladakh Protest Turns Violent: 4 Dead, Dozens Injured Amid Statehood Demand

Leh: The demand for full statehood for Ladakh has been a long-standing one. A major protest began on September 24th in support of this demand. This protest was led by social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been raising his voice for Ladakh's rights for the past few months. Students have now joined in this peaceful movement in support of him. Gen-Z Protests Intensify in Ladakh Demanding Statehood and Sixth Schedule Inclusion Protest Turns Violent The initially peaceful protest quickly turned violent. Students clashed with police, exacerbating the situation. Four people were killed, and at least 80 were injured. In addition, 40 police officers were also reported injured in the violence. Deployment of Tear Gas and Paramilitary Forces Police and paramilitary forces were deployed to control the situation. These forces used tear gas to control the crowds and even used force in several places. Condemnation of Violence Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta strongly condemned the violence. He stated that everyone has the right to protest in a democracy, but violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He clarified that strict action will be taken against those inciting violence. Violent Protests Against Tradition The Lieutenant Governor also stated that Ladakh has a long-standing peaceful culture. However, some elements are now inciting people, drawing comparisons with Nepal and Bangladesh, and attempting to set fire to homes and private properties, which is against the region's tradition. [caption id="attachment_159358" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Demand for statehood intensifies[/caption] Four Key Demands of the Protesters Ladakh should be granted full statehood. Ladakh should be granted special protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Kargil and Leh should be given separate Lok Sabha seats. Locals should be given priority in government jobs. Central Government Response The central government may hold a high-level meeting in Delhi on October 6th to address these demands of the protesters. It is noteworthy that in 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were made separate Union Territories by repealing Articles 370 and 35A, the government promised that statehood could be restored once the situation returned to normal. Army brings mobile connectivity to Ladakh; empowers border villages The people of Ladakh have become increasingly aware of their constitutional rights and identity. While their demands may seem legitimate, the violence and arson have raised questions about the dignity of the movement. It remains to be seen how the central government resolves this issue and whether any concrete steps are taken towards granting statehood to Ladakh.