Ladakh Statehood Agitation Turns Violent: BJP Office Set on Fire in Leh

Srinagar | September 24, 2025 Protests demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule spiraled out of control in Leh on Wednesday, with demonstrators setting the local BJP office on fire. Police resorted to firing teargas shells to disperse the crowds as violence broke out during a shutdown call given by student and youth organisations. How the Protest Escalated The latest round of unrest began after two elderly hunger strikers—one man and one woman—collapsed on Tuesday while fasting in support of the statehood demand. They were rushed to hospital, sparking anger and emotional responses among local residents. News of their condition quickly spread, and by Wednesday morning, a large crowd of students and youth gathered at the hunger strike site in Leh. According to Congress leader Tsering Namgyal, the presence of heavy police and paramilitary deployment only heightened tensions. “The elderly woman and man fainted yesterday, and the news created strong reactions. Students called for a shutdown today, and when people assembled, the youth lost control,” Namgyal said. Violence and Damage In the chaos that followed, protesters torched the BJP’s Leh office, sending thick plumes of smoke across the city. A police security vehicle parked outside the office was also set ablaze. Visuals showed flames consuming the building as security personnel struggled to regain control of the situation. Wangchuk Appeals for Calm Noted activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been leading the statehood campaign and has been on hunger strike for the past 35 days, expressed deep disappointment at the turn of events. “Very sad events in Leh. My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause,” Wangchuk posted on X. While Wangchuk and other protest leaders have consistently stressed non-violent methods, Wednesday’s outbreak of arson has raised concerns that the agitation could take a more volatile direction. Centre’s Talks Scheduled The Centre has already scheduled the next round of talks with Ladakhi representatives for October 6. However, Wednesday’s unrest highlights the growing impatience among local groups, many of whom want the dialogue process expedited. The Roots of the Demand The demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule status in Ladakh has its roots in the political changes following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act split the former state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir, which retained a legislature, and Ladakh, which was placed under direct central rule without one. For many in Ladakh, this arrangement has been deeply unsatisfactory. They argue that being left without an elected legislature has reduced their political voice. The demand for Sixth Schedule inclusion is also strongly tied to the region’s tribal identity, as more than 90% of Ladakh’s population belongs to Scheduled Tribes. Sixth Schedule provisions, already applicable in several northeastern states, grant tribal-majority regions legislative and financial autonomy through autonomous district councils. Looking Ahead With growing unrest and heightened emotions on the ground, the challenge before both the Centre and Ladakhi leadership is to channel the agitation back into peaceful and constructive dialogue. The violence in Leh has already cast a shadow over the upcoming talks, raising the stakes for negotiations scheduled in October. Ladakh Protest Turns Violent in Leh Protests over statehood and the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh took a violent turn in Leh as demonstrators set the BJP office and a police vehicle on fire. The unrest followed news that two elderly hunger strikers fainted after weeks of fasting, sparking anger among locals. Heavy police and paramilitary presence failed to contain the crowd as student and youth groups called for a shutdown. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has led the movement peacefully for over a month, condemned the violence, urging youth to stop and warning that such actions harm the cause ahead of October talks.