Leh Curfew Extended; Situation Stable Yet Watchful

Leh remained under curfew on Thursday after four protestors were killed and around 40 others injured in clashes with security forces a day earlier, when mobs set fire to vehicles, torched the BJP office, and damaged the Hill Council premises.

Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag faced charges on Tuesday for giving an inflammatory speech at a hunger-strike site.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has accused hunger strikers, including climate campaigner Sonam Wangchuk, of instigating the unrest on Wednesday.

An unruly crowd torched the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council office, and a CRPF vehicle, and also damaged other cars during stone-pelting.

This forced police and paramilitary forces to resort to firing, tear gas, and baton charges to protect public property and safeguard both security personnel and civilians.

The hunger strike by the Youth Wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) aimed at pressing the Centre to begin talks earlier than the scheduled 6 October meeting over their four-point charter of demands, statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, separate parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil, and employment quotas.

Joint Agitation with KDA

For four years, the LAB of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have jointly agitated for these demands, engaging in multiple discussions with the MHA.

Tensions began escalating on Tuesday evening.

Former MP and LAB chief Thupstan Chhewang, who had stepped down after the 27 May talks, has now returned to lead the organisation and is likely to head the joint delegation in negotiations.

The Congress withdrew from the LAB after some members argued that its delegation should remain non-political, given the upcoming Leh Hill Council polls.

Meanwhile, authorities cancelled the four-day Ladakh Festival on Thursday, its final day, due to the disturbances.

Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Kavinder Gupta was due to attend the festival’s closing ceremony, which began on Sunday.

Police stated that calm has returned to Leh town, with strict enforcement of curfew measures by the District Magistrate.

Following Wednesday’s incidents, L-G Gupta warned of tough action against troublemakers and expressed solidarity with Ladakh’s people, describing them as peace-loving and law-abiding.

BJP’s Allegations Against Congress

Taking to X, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted, “At a press conference yesterday, Congress councillor from Saspol, Smanla Dorjey Norboo, openly challenged the administration, daring them to deploy more CRPF personnel and insisting that even a larger security presence would not stop demonstrators from reaching the BJP Ladakh office and dragging people out.”

“He went on to say that he would personally come to stone the BJP Ladakh office, and he urged people from across Ladakh to travel to Leh on 24 September to carry out the attack. On 24 September, a mob subsequently set fire to the BJP Ladakh office,” the post further added.

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