Leh witnessed violent protests on Wednesday as a rally called by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) spiraled into arson and clashes, with the ruling BJP office in the city set ablaze.
The unrest comes amid a 35-day-long hunger strike led by LAB leaders since September 10, with renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk’s strike continuing under its banner. Wangchuk, however, condemned the violence, calling it “nonsensical.”
At the heart of the agitation is a four-point charter of demands: statehood for Ladakh, inclusion of the tribal-dominated region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a separate public service commission, and two parliamentary seats instead of the existing one.
LAB, alongside the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been negotiating with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) since December 2024.
While the MHA recently fixed October 6 as the date for the next round of talks, LAB rejected it as “dictation,” insisting discussions should be mutually agreed upon.
Leaders have vowed to continue their hunger strike until a concrete agreement is reached.
