4 dead, over 40 injured; Curfew clamped
At least four people were killed and over 40 were injured after a massive agitation over demands for statehood and other things turned violent in Leh on Wednesday.
The situation worsened 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 protestors have been demanding statehood for Ladakh and advancing the proposed talks with the Centre on the extension of the Sixth Schedule.
According to news agency PTI, the youth wing of the LAB had called for a 35-day hunger strike starting September 10. During the strike, two people out of 15 were hospitalised, which reportedly triggered the youth wing’s call for protest and shutdown.
The fresh protests in Ladakh come days after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) vowed to continue the hunger strike until their demands of statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule are met. The violent protest erupted while talks were scheduled between the apex body and Centre on October 6.
Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday blamed “vested interests” for the violence that led to the death of four people in the Union Territory, as he announced a curfew to prevent more bloodshed and vowed action against the guilty.
Gupta said a deployment of the CRPF and policemen was made in the morning to maintain law and order. “All our policemen were given sticks in their hands. But an attempt was made to burn the CRPF personnel sitting inside their vehicle. What kind of justice is this? Will we let our soldiers die like this?” he said, adding, some people also threw stones at the vehicle of the Director General Police.
“Are there no conspirators behind this? I want to say this to the peaceful people of Ladakh. Please understand this. Some people are trying to spoil the security system of Ladakh for their petty interests,” he said.
Thupstan Tswang, chairman of the apex body of Ladakh, said the martyrdom of youths wouldn’t go in vain. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was also part of the ongoing agitation in the region, called off his 15-day hunger strike and issued an appeal for peace.