A massive protest erupted in Leh on Wednesday morning, September 24, after people took to the streets demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. The protest turned violent as demonstrators clashed with Leh Police and set the BJP Office on fire. In the first such instance of violence, stones were pelted at officials, and a police vehicle was even burnt down.

To press the statehood demand and constitutional safeguard, the people in Ladakh have been observing a hunger strike and a total shutdown . The angry protesters attacked the Police, who in turn fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and resorted to a lathi-charge.

The violence in Ladakh played out against the backdrop of the upcoming meeting with the Central government. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had again been on a hunger strike in the Union Territory to safeguard the fragile ecosystem, jobs, and land rights. The protest comes at a time when a fresh round of talks is scheduled to be held between the Government and Ladakh representatives on October 6.