Leh, Sept. 25 — Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew across Leh on Thursday after violent protests over statehood demands left four people dead and nearly 100 others injured, including security personnel. At least 50 people were detained overnight as police and paramilitary forces patrolled the streets to restore calm.
“Curfew has been imposed across Leh town. The situation so far is stable. Security forces are on ground maintaining calm,” a police officer said, confirming that those arrested were involved in arson and rioting.
The violence broke out Wednesday when a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in support of Union Territory statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule escalated into clashes. Protesters set ablaze the BJP office, torched vehicles and vandalised the Hill Council headquarters, forcing authorities to clamp curfew.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking to reporters in Reasi, appealed for restraint. “I want to tell the people of Ladakh to maintain peace, brotherhood and not to take the law in their hands,” he said, noting that while demands for Union Territory had been raised, “let them progress as much as they can.”
Officials said three of the injured were Nepali nationals, and investigators are probing whether a foreign hand influenced the unrest. Trouble had first flared Tuesday evening after two of 15 activists on a 35-day hunger strike were hospitalised in critical condition, prompting the LAB youth wing to call mass protests.
The unrest also spread to Kargil, where the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had called a solidarity strike with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his fortnight-long hunger strike following the violence. Heavy deployments were reported in Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra, Padam, Changtang, Drass and Lamayuru.
Kargil district magistrate Rakesh Kumar invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning gatherings of more than five people, processions or demonstrations without written permission, and restricting loudspeakers and statements likely to disturb peace.
The Union home ministry accused Wangchuk’s remarks of fuelling unrest. “Certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakhi groups,” the ministry said, stressing that the Centre remained committed to providing “adequate constitutional safeguards” to Ladakh.
Lt. Governor Kavinder Gupta called the events “heart-wrenching.” He said, “Everyone has the right to speak up in a peaceful manner in a democratic system, but what happened was not spontaneous and was the result of a conspiracy. Curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent more casualties.”
Despite restrictions, both LAB and KDA announced plans to send a joint six-member delegation to New Delhi for talks with the Centre. “The situation is normalising and restrictions are in force. Though the security forces are allowing movement of few people or occasional vehicles,” LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said, confirming the delegation will travel to Delhi ahead of talks scheduled for October 6.
