Leh Protests Turn Violent as Students Demand Full Statehood, Sixth Schedule Inclusion

In Leh, Ladakh, student protests supporting activist Sonam Wangchuk escalated into violent clashes with security forces today. The demonstrators, demanding full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, took to the streets in large numbers, forming human chains to resist dispersal.According to local reports, the unrest stems from long-standing grievances. Since August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was revoked and Ladakh was declared a Union Territory without a legislature, residents have felt politically underrepresented. The Ladakh Development Council’s authority was also curtailed, intensifying local frustrations. Students and citizens have repeatedly urged the central government to grant legislative powers and safeguard local rights, including land and employment protections, but they feel these demands have largely been ignored.The protests turned violent as participants set vehicles and some government property on fire. Security forces responded with lathi-charge, and clashes involved stone-pelting and other confrontations. Some protesters sustained injuries, while a CRPF vehicle was damaged. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.Organizers warn that the unrest, which began in Leh, could spread to other areas such as Kargil. Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike has heightened tensions, reflecting the growing impatience and frustration among Ladakh’s youth over delayed political assurances.