Ladakh statehood agitation turns violent as protesters resort to stone-pelting, BJP office torched

Police resorted to shelling teargas, lathicharge to control the inflamed situation.

The protesters even pelted stones at the police. A police van was also burnt.

A BJP office was set on fire by the protesters turning the agitation violent.

A vehicle outside the office was also torched forcing the deployment of additional forces to diffuse the tension.

The protesters were observing a hunger strike and a complete shutdown to press for their demands.

An unprecedented protest in recent times in Ladakh broke out ahead of the fresh round of talks between the government and Ladakh representatives on October 6.

The Ladakh representatives comprises Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)

As per reports, the LAB youth wing started a 35-day hunger strike on September 10. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is also a part of the protest.

In the course of the hunger strike, two out of 15 people were hospitalised, triggering the protest and shutdown.

For the uninformed, the central government in 2019 took the historic step of abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The government also bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Initially, several activists including Wangchuk had welcomed the Centre's move but later spoke against the Lieutenant Governor over a political vacuum that allegedly prevails in the UT.

The Centre has set up a high-level committee tasked with the examination of the demands.