Daijiworld Media Network - Leh

Leh, Sep 25: A massive police crackdown is underway in Ladakh following Wednesday’s violent clashes in Leh, which left four protesters dead and 90 others injured. Around 50 people were arrested during pre-dawn raids after Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta vowed action against those involved.

The police have registered an FIR against Congress Councilor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag in connection with the violence. It remains unclear if he was among those arrested. Curfew continues in Leh, while restrictions have been imposed in Kargil following a shutdown call demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, CRPF, and local police have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Angry mobs had burned down the BJP office and the Ladakh Hill Council Secretariat. The BJP blamed the Congress, releasing photos of Councilor Tsepag allegedly participating in the violence.

The Centre has held climate activist Sonam Wangchuk responsible, alleging that his provocative speeches during a 15-day hunger strike triggered the unrest. Wangchuk had invoked Nepal Gen Z protests to rally people before calling off the strike when violence erupted. The Ministry of Home Affairs said, “The mob was guided by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements.”

Ladakh, carved out as a separate Union Territory in August 2019, has seen growing unrest over direct central rule. Residents have repeatedly demanded statehood and constitutional safeguards to protect local land, culture, and resources. Political and religious groups from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil have joined forces under the Apex Body of Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, but talks with the Union Home Minister have so far failed.

One local leader told NDTV, “The Home Minister told us he had made a mistake carving out Ladakh as a separate UT and rejected our demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedule.”