Ladakh protest highlights. A vehicle is set on fire during a protest by locals over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday.
The home ministry said that situation in Ladakh has been under control since 4 pm on Wednesday after at least four people were killed and over 50 were injured after a massive agitation over demands for statehood and other things turned violent in Leh.
The home ministry also stated said that while the government has been actively engaged with Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance on issues such as statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the 6th schedule and such dialogue has yielded “phenomenal results”, “certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress”.
The home ministry also accused climate activist Sonal Wangchuk of “misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal.”
The situation worsened in Leh on Wednesday when some youth pelted stones at the headquarters of the BJP and the Hill Council. Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength across the town, lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control, according to PTI.
Groups of youth set ablaze a security vehicle and some more, and also targeted the BJP office. They set fire to furniture and papers within the complex and one of the buildings.
The MHA said that at least 30 police and CRPF personnel were injured in the violent protest and that police had to resort to firing in self-defence. The ministry also accused Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike over the issue, of instigating the mob.
The protestors have been demanding statehood for Ladakh and advancing the proposed talks with the Centre on the extension of the Sixth Schedule.
Wangchuk has called off his 15-day hunger strike and issued an appeal for peace.
-The movement for extending the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh has been gathering pace for some time in the region.
-The Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, meant for the tribal population of the four northeast states of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam, makes special provisions in terms of governance, powers of president and the governor, type of local bodies, alternate judicial mechanisms and financial powers exercised through autonomous councils.
-A fresh round of talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs and members of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is scheduled for October 6.
-The two bodies have been jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of their demands and have held several rounds of talks with the government in the past.
-In response to a protest call, Leh town was shut down on Wednesday, and large crowds gathered at the NDS memorial ground before marching through the streets, chanting slogans in support of the Sixth Schedule and statehood.
-The situation worsened when some youth pelted stones at the headquarters of the BJP and the Hill Council.
