Leh, Sep 25: Curfew continued in Leh town on Thursday following a violent clash between protesters and security forces on Wednesday, which left four dead and 40 injured. The unrest saw vehicles torched, the local BJP office destroyed, and partial damage to the Leh Hill Council office.
Congress leader and councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag has been booked for allegedly delivering a provocative speech at a hunger strike site on Tuesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) blamed the hunger strikers, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, for inciting the violence.
According to police, mobs set fire to the BJP office, the Hill Council office, and a CRPF Gypsy, while stone-pelting caused damage to several vehicles. Security personnel responded with firing, tear gas, and baton charges to protect government property and lives.
The protest was led by the Youth Wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), aiming to press the Centre to hold talks earlier than the scheduled October 6 meeting. The demonstrators are demanding Statehood, extension of the Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and employment reservations.
LAB Leh and KDA Kargil have been jointly leading the agitation over the past four years, holding several rounds of discussions with the MHA. Tensions escalated since Tuesday evening. Former MP and LAB chairperson Thupstan Chhewang, who had resigned after talks on May 27, has returned to lead the delegation.
The Congress chose to stay out of the LAB to maintain a non-political stance ahead of the Leh Hill Council elections next month.
In the wake of the violence, the four-day annual Ladakh festival was cancelled on its final day, Thursday. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who was scheduled to attend the closing ceremony, condemned the violence and reaffirmed strict enforcement of curfew restrictions.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused Congress councillor Smanla Dorjey Norboo of inciting the mob. He alleged that Norboo had publicly encouraged demonstrators to attack the BJP office, which subsequently occurred on September 24.
Police report that the situation in Leh town is now peaceful under strict curfew enforcement.
