Ladakh Crackdown: 50 Arrested After Violent Protests Over Statehood Demands

Pre-dawn raids in Ladakh have resulted in approximately 50 arrests following violent protests, as authorities crack down on those involved in Wednesday's unrest and arson.

Law enforcement has filed an FIR against Congress Councilor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag in connection with the violence, though it remains unclear whether he is among those detained during the early morning operations in Leh.

Central government officials have attributed the violence to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, claiming his provocative rhetoric incited the unrest that left four protesters dead and 90 injured following clashes with security forces.

Authorities have implemented a curfew across Leh district, with Indo-Tibetan Border Police, CRPF, and local law enforcement deployed to restore order. Similar restrictions have been enacted in Kargil following calls for a shutdown in support of statehood and constitutional protections for Ladakh.

Protesters set fire to both the BJP headquarters in Ladakh and the Ladakh Hill Council Secretariat. The BJP has placed blame on Congress for the violence, circulating images allegedly showing Councilor Tsepag participating in the violent demonstrations.

The Home Ministry specifically accused Sonam Wangchuk of "instigating the mob through his provocative speech" during his 15-day hunger strike demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. Wangchuk terminated his hunger strike shortly after violence erupted in Leh.

According to government statements, during his protest, Wangchuk referenced Nepal's Gen Z demonstrations to encourage civil disobedience.

"Despite appeals from numerous leaders urging Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, he persisted, misleading citizens through inflammatory references to Arab Spring-style protests and Nepal's Gen Z demonstrations," the Ministry of Home Affairs stated.

The ministry further alleged that protesters, motivated by Wangchuk's rhetoric, left the hunger strike location to attack both a political party office and the government office of the CEC Leh. "It is evident that Sonam Wangchuk's provocative statements guided the mob's actions," the MHA declared.

Ladakh has experienced increasing resistance to direct central administration over the past three years. Residents have consistently demanded statehood and constitutional protections to preserve their land, culture, and resources.

The region was established as a separate Union Territory in August 2019, following the revocation of Article 370 and the division of Jammu and Kashmir state. Initially, many Leh residents, including Wangchuk, supported this change. However, within a year, concerns grew regarding what locals described as a political vacuum under the Lieutenant Governor's administration.

This dissatisfaction triggered widespread demonstrations and hunger strikes. In an unprecedented development, political and religious organizations from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil united under a joint platform: the Apex Body of Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.

The central government responded by establishing a high-level committee to evaluate Ladakh's demands. However, multiple rounds of negotiations failed to produce results. Ladakhi representatives met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi this March.

The discussions collapsed shortly thereafter. Local leaders reported that the Home Minister had dismissed their fundamental demands.

"During our meeting, the Home Minister acknowledged he had made an error by establishing Ladakh as a separate Union Territory. He also rejected our demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections," one leader who participated in the discussions told NDTV.