Curfew continues in Leh; tension remains but peace holds

Leh- A curfew remained in place across Leh town on Thursday, a day after four protesters were killed and 40 others injured in clashes with security forces. The violence broke out when mobs set vehicles ablaze, torched the local BJP office, and partially damaged 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 venue on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blamed the hunger strikers, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, for inciting Wednesday’s violence.

Police said mobs had torched the BJP office, the Hill Council building, and a CRPF vehicle, while stone pelting damaged several more vehicles. Security forces responded with gunfire, tear gas, and baton charges to prevent further destruction of government property and protect lives.

The Youth Wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) had staged the hunger strike to press for an earlier dialogue with the Centre rather than the October 6 meeting. Their four-point charter of demands includes statehood for Ladakh, extension of the Sixth Schedule, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, and employment reservations.

The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been agitating for these demands for four years and has previously held several rounds of talks with the MHA.

Tensions had been simmering since Tuesday evening. Former MP and LAB chairperson Thupstan Chhewang, who resigned from the group after talks stalled in May, has now rejoined and is expected to lead the joint delegation in the upcoming negotiations.

The Congress, however, opted out of the LAB after some members argued the delegation should remain non-political in view of the upcoming Leh Hill Council elections.

Meanwhile, the annual four-day Ladakh Festival was cancelled on its final day on Thursday following the unrest. Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Kavinder Gupta, who was scheduled to attend the closing ceremony, warned of strict action against miscreants. He also expressed solidarity with the people of Ladakh, calling them peaceful and law-abiding.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, reacting on X, accused Congress councillor Smanla Dorjey Norboo of openly challenging the administration. Malviya alleged that Norboo had urged people from across Ladakh to gather in Leh on September 24 and attack the BJP office, which was later set on fire by a mob.

With inputs from IANS