Security forces patrolled the streets of India’s Himalayan region of Ladakh on Thursday, a day after four people were killed and dozens injured in violent protests demanding statehood and job quotas for the federally administered territory.
Authorities imposed curfews in parts of the region as television footage showed troop patrols moving through deserted streets lined with shuttered shops. The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), an umbrella group of political, social, and trade organisations, called for further demonstrations over the deaths.
“I demand a fair, impartial and time-bound investigation into the deaths of our students,” Ladakh’s member of parliament Mohmad Haneefa posted on X, also urging relief for bereaved families and accountability for those responsible.
On Thursday, damaged cars with smashed windows remained scattered along the streets of Leh, one of Ladakh’s two most populous districts alongside Muslim-majority Kargil.
The territory, bordering China, lost its autonomy in 2019 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and brought Ladakh under direct federal control.
The latest protests were led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been campaigning for special constitutional protections to allow elected local bodies to safeguard the rights of Ladakh’s tribal communities.
Clashes broke out on Wednesday after demonstrators attacked a political party office, torched a police vehicle, and set fire to the office of Leh’s chief executive councillor.
Police opened fire on the crowd, the interior ministry confirmed, saying the violence was triggered by “provocative” speeches by Wangchuk.
At least 80 people were injured, six of them critically, and more than 50 protesters were arrested. Over 30 police officers were also hurt.
KDA legal adviser Haji Ghulam Mustafa condemned the bloodshed, stressing that protests in Ladakh had remained peaceful for the past five years. “I do not understand who gave the orders to shoot,” he told ANI news agency.
The unrest highlights deepening discontent in Ladakh since its autonomy was revoked, with local leaders continuing to push for statehood, greater representation, and stronger protections for the fragile Himalayan region.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
