4 killed, 30 injured in Leh clashes during protest for statehood; Wangchuk expresses sadness
Leh: Four people were killed and 30 others injured in violent clashes between protesters and security personnel in Leh on Wednesday during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), officials said.
The unrest erupted as part of the ongoing agitation demanding statehood for Ladakh and the inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Officials said protesters turned violent, attacking a BJP office and damaging several vehicles. Police were forced to open fire to control the situation, they added.
“Four people were killed and 30 others injured in intense clashes,” the officials confirmed. Protesters have claimed that the deaths occurred due to police firing.
The LAB youth wing had called for the shutdown after two of the 15 people on a 35-day hunger strike—ongoing since September 10—were shifted to a hospital Tuesday evening due to deteriorating health.
Wangchuk: Youth frustration led to violence
Reacting to the violence, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been spearheading the protest through a hunger strike, expressed deep sorrow and blamed the growing frustration among the youth as the primary cause.
Addressing an online press conference, Wangchuk said, “Two of the protesters, a 72-year-old man and a woman (62), were taken to a hospital on Tuesday,” adding that it was “most likely the immediate trigger for the violent protest.”
Wangchuk, who called off his hunger strike after unrest broke out, said the youth had been patient but felt their peaceful demonstrations were being ignored.
“Frustration had been building in the youth as the peaceful protests were not yielding any results,” he said.
“There are reports that three to five youths were killed,” he added.
On BJP leader Amit Malviya alleging involvement of Congress Councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag in violence targeted at Leh BJP office, Wangchuk told ANI, "Congress doesn't have such influence here that it can manage to get 5000 youth on the roads...A Congress councillor yesterday reached a hospital in anger because two people from his village were brought injured to the hospital..."