Security forces have clamped a curfew on Leh, the main city of Ladakh, after protests over statehood and local job quotas turned violent, leaving at least four people dead and dozens injured.

The unrest on Wednesday saw demonstrators clash with police, torch a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office, and set a security vehicle on fire. Authorities say 30 police personnel were hurt in the violence.

Anger Over Statehood

Ladakh, a high-altitude desert bordering China and Pakistan, has been at the center of political unrest since 2019, when the BJP government revoked its semi-autonomous status by splitting it from Jammu and Kashmir and placing it under direct federal rule.

The region, home to about 300,000 people, is divided between the Buddhist-majority Leh district and the Muslim-majority Kargil district. Historically, Leh pushed for a separate union territory, while Kargil leaned toward integration with Jammu and Kashmir. But in recent years, both sides have united in demanding the restoration of statehood and legal protections over land and jobs.

A Movement Turns Violent

Wednesday’s violence was the most serious in decades. Police used bullets and tear gas after being attacked by protesters, according to the federal home ministry. Four people critically injured later died.

The ministry accused prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk—who has been leading the campaign for statehood—of fueling tensions through “provocative statements,” citing his comparisons to the Arab Spring and youth-led movements in Nepal.

Mr Wangchuk, an engineer and climate activist widely respected for his work on education and sustainability, denied the allegations. He ended his hunger strike, which began on 12 September, and appealed for calm, stressing that “violence only damages our cause.”

Frustration Among Youth

Local leaders say the protests reflect growing despair among Ladakh’s younger generation, many of whom face unemployment.
“There was a general feeling that the federal government was not hearing our voices,” said Padma Stanzin, one of the hunger strike organisers, insisting their movement has always been peaceful.

Chhering Dorje Lakrook, head of the influential Ladakh Buddhist Association, said the delay in dialogue with the federal government had angered protesters further. “Unemployment is soaring, and repeated postponements have created frustration,” he told the BBC.

Government Response

Federal officials maintain they have held constructive talks with Ladakhi leaders since 2023 and say significant progress has been made. They accuse “politically motivated” figures of trying to derail the process.

Kavinder Gupta, Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, suggested there was a wider conspiracy behind the violence, pointing to comparisons with protests in neighbouring countries.

Talks between local representatives and federal officials are scheduled for later this week, with another committee meeting planned on 6 October.

Strategic Tensions

The turmoil comes in a sensitive region where India maintains a heavy military presence. Ladakh includes parts of the disputed border with China, where a deadly 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley killed 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.

For now, Leh remains under curfew, with the federal government under pressure to restore calm while addressing local demands that have only grown louder since the bloodshed.