Demonstrations for the creation of the State of Ladakh: the BJP office burned, the violence leaves 4 dead and 30 injured

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Ladakh was set on fire on Wednesday September 24 by protesters demanding the creation of a state.

The protesters demanded the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

The protests turned violent and clashes broke out between police and demonstrators. The violence left at least four dead and 30 others injured, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

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The ongoing protests are being led by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which turned violent when protesters claimed the Center had not recognized their demands, according to News18.

The LAB group had called for protests on September 24 after two of its members, who had been on a 35-day hunger strike since September 10, fell ill and were taken to hospital on the evening of Tuesday September 23.

Around 15 people had gone on hunger strike, according to News18.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has also participated in the ongoing protests in the region.

Police fired tear gas shells and used batons to control the crowd. Stone throwing by young people was also reported.

Ladakh is currently a Union Territory since August 5, 2019, when the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two different regions after the abrogation of Article 370.

The two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – were administered by the Center for some time. Elections were held in J&K in 2024 when Omar Abdullah became the chief minister.