How a peaceful protest took violent turn in Leh

For a fortnight since September 10 when climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, supported by members of Leh Apex Body (LAB), started a hunger strike in Leh demanding statehood for Ladakh, scores of people from villages would descend to the protest site to show their support.

- Ashiq Hussain

But, Wednesday was different. Instead of dozens or hundreds, thousands turned up at the venue at NDS memorial park — many of them young men and teenagers. The immediate trigger had been the deterioration of the health of two elderly protesters — Tsering Angchuk (72) and Tashi Dolma (60) — who were hospitalised.

“This provoked people and on Wednesday an exceptionally large number of people came. It was all the Gen-Z of Ladakh,” said Leh Apex Body co-chair-man, Chering Dorjay, who was present at the venue and tried to stop the angry protesters.

The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been spearheading an agitation over the last five years pressing for their demands on statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh after it was split from Jammu & Kashmir following abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.