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Calls are intensifying for a judicial investigation into the police firing that killed four people and injured over 30 others during violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood. The unrest coincided with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike; he is currently under arrest under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).
The deadly clashes erupted on Wednesday after protesters set fire to the Union Territory’s BJP headquarters, the Hill Council office, and several police vehicles in Leh. Security forces responded with tear gas and gunfire, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including a former Army soldier. Over 50 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, which broke out during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) seeking an extension of the Sixth Schedule and full statehood for Ladakh.
The government attributed the violence to Wangchuk, accusing him of incitement, while local leaders condemned the police’s “disproportionate use of force” and demanded accountability. “It’s a clear case of excessive force. We demand an impartial judicial probe into the killings and injuries of many civilians,” said Haji Hanifa Jan, Member of Parliament from Ladakh.
Both LAB and the Ladakh Buddhist Association have rejected claims of outside interference, emphasizing that the youth involved were educated but unemployed. Chering Dorjey Lakrook, LAB co-chairman, said, “Attempts are being made to label this anti-national. Protesters targeted BJP symbols, not the national flag, and even removed Ambedkar’s portrait before the office was set on fire.”
Sajjad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) also urged an impartial inquiry and accountability for security forces, while calling for the withdrawal of cases filed amidst the heightened tensions. He added, “Ladakh stands united for Statehood and Sixth Schedule, and against the undemocratic UT setup that has failed to protect our democratic and constitutional rights.”
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
