Leh: As Ladakh reeled from its bloodiest protest in years, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk described Tuesday’s unrest as “an outburst of the young generation,” highlighting how Ladakh’s youth have taken the lead in demanding statehood and safeguards.
“This was not planned violence. It is the frustration of young people who see no future, no jobs, and no political representation. They are the ones carrying the movement now,” Wangchuk said after four protesters were killed and more than 80 injured.
Most of the demonstrators on Tuesday were students and first-time protesters. Many carried placards demanding statehood, while others waved Ladakhi flags. Witnesses said the crowd swelled into thousands, despite Section 163 being invoked to ban gatherings.
The clashes began when protesters tried to breach barricades near government offices, prompting police to fire tear gas and later live rounds. “The anger was raw, unlike anything we have seen before,” said a Leh resident who witnessed the violence.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into the firing incident in Leh that claimed four civilian lives and left over a dozen injured. The demand was made during a press conference addressed by former legislator and senior KDA leader Asghar Ali Karbalai amid a complete shutdown in Kargil.
Karbalai said the people of Ladakh have every right to know on whose orders security forces opened fire on protesters. “Four innocent civilians have been killed, and 12 others are still critical in hospitals. Instead of showing remorse, the government has launched a witch hunt, arresting people and raiding homes where youth are being beaten. This is unacceptable. Stop harassing protesters and their families. Dialogue is the only way forward. Do not disturb the fragile peace of Ladakh,” he said.
The KDA leader accused the Union Government of betraying Ladakhis by ignoring their long-standing demands. “For the last five years, Ladakh has been protesting in favour of a four-point program: statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, job security, and reservation safeguards. In 2019, our political and democratic rights were snatched away, and our land and jobs were left vulnerable. Despite several rounds of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs, nothing concrete has been delivered, only empty assurances,” Karbalai stated.
He revealed that since May 27 there had been no contact between Ladakhi leadership and the MHA. “The people of Ladakh have been left helpless. Everyone knows we believe in peace, yet even after a 14-day hunger strike during which two elders fainted, the Centre remained silent. It was only after violence broke out that the MHA reacted, assuring talks on October 6. This silence and delay are testing the patience of Ladakhis,” he said.
The shutdown in Kargil witnessed deserted markets, closed businesses, and no traffic on roads as locals expressed solidarity with the families of those killed.
