Indian authorities have imposed a strict curfew in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, following violent protests that left at least four people dead and dozens injured on Wednesday. The unrest marks one of the most serious escalations since the Himalayan region lost its semi-autonomous status in 2019.
The violence erupted during demonstrations demanding statehood and greater autonomy for Ladakh, which has been under direct federal rule since being carved out of Jammu and Kashmir five years ago. Protesters torched a police vehicle and set fire to the local office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leaving more than 30 police officers injured.
In response, security forces opened fire, which officials described as an act of self-defence. India’s federal home ministry blamed activist Sonam Wangchuk for inciting the clashes, accusing him of making provocative statements and comparing the protests to uprisings in Nepal and the Arab Spring. Wangchuk, however, denied the allegations, stressing that frustration among unemployed youth was the real trigger.
Wangchuk, a prominent engineer and activist recognized for his work on education and climate change, has been leading peaceful protests for Ladakh’s statehood. He recently ended a hunger strike and called for calm, warning that violence “only damages our cause.”
Since 2019, both the Buddhist-majority Leh district and the Muslim-majority Kargil district have united in demanding statehood, local job quotas, and protections for land and cultural rights. Many residents fear that the removal of Ladakh’s special status has left them vulnerable to outside economic interests and eroded local governance.
The federal government insists it has engaged in meaningful dialogue with local leaders and claims “phenomenal results” have been achieved. A committee set up by New Delhi is scheduled to meet with Ladakhi representatives on October 6 to continue discussions.
Meanwhile, Ladakh’s federally appointed Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has launched an investigation into the clashes, calling the violence part of a “conspiracy.” Talks between protesters and officials are expected to resume in the coming days as authorities attempt to restore calm in the strategically sensitive region bordering China and Pakistan.
