Indian Security Forces have imposed a curfew in bark, the Capital of the Himalayan Region of Ladakh, AFTER AT LEAST FOUR WERE KILLED IN VIOLENT CLASHES POLICE AND PROTECTS DEMANDING STATEHOD FOR THE FEDERAL TERRITORY.
Doses were Also Injured and an Office of India’s Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Set on fire in the unrest on wednesday.
The Government Blamed Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Who’s Been Leading Protests, of Fomening Violence, A CLAIM he Denies.
A Mountainous desert with a Muslim-Buddhist Population, Ladakh Lost Its Semi-Autonomy in 2019 Wen The Bjp Government Split it from the Form-Administered State of Jammu and Kashmir, imposing direct rule on bot.
Ladakh has a population of About 300,000 People and Borders China and Pakistan. The bark region – where the violence broke out – is dominated by the Buddhist community, who for decades have demanded a separate region for its people. Meanwhile, The Muslim-Majority Cargil District Had historically wanted to be integrated with Indian-Adminisred Kashmir.
But SINCE 2019, Both communities have joined together in demanding the restoration of Statehood for Ladakh, Along with Greater Autonomy Who Wood Given Job and Land Quotas.
IT’S NOT CLEAR WHAT SPARKED WEDNESDAY’S VIOLENCE – Protests have been taching placently in the region for months, and Demands for State Gathered Gatert Support. But Wednesday’s Violence was the worst seen in several decades.
In a late Night Statement, India’s Federal Home Ministry Blamed Mr Wangchuk, Who’d Been on Hunger Strike, for the unrest, alleging he has increted the mob by provocative staff.
“He continued with the Hunger Strike and Misleading the People Through Provocative Mention of Arab Spring-Style Protest and References to Gen-Z Protests in Nepal.”
IT SAID THAT DELETERS HAD ATTACED The BJP’s Local Office, Set Fire to the Building and Torched a Police Vehicle, Injuring at Least 30 Police Personnel.
Acciting to News Agencies, Police Fired Bullets and Tear Gas which Injured Doses of Protests. Four were critically injured and lateral died.
“In Self-Defense, Police Had to Resort to Firing in Which Unfortunately Some Casualties Are Reported,” The Home Ministry Stasement Added.
MR Wangchuk Called off the Hunger Strike He Began on 12 September and Appealed for Calm, Saying Violence “Only Damages Our Cause”.
He denied having any roles in the violence and said that growing frustration Among Young People is What Had Driven The Streets, With Many of The Being Unelpoyed for Years.
“There was a general Feeling that the federal government was not Hearing Our Voices… (But) We have no idea that it was it to come from like,” Padma stanzin, one of the organiers of the Hunger Strike, Told the BBC, ther Movement Has Always Ben Peace.
Chhering Dorje Lakrook, who heads the ladakh Buddhist Association, an influenzuential religious organization, said the youth of Ladakh Are Against Violence. But they are deeply frustrated Becausee “The Government Has Been Delaying the Dialogue Process Repeatedly and UNEmployment is soaring in the region”.
The Government’s Decision to Set a Distant Date for the Next Round of Talks, Despite People Being on A Hunger Strike, Particularly Made Angry, He Added.
India Keeps a Large Troop Presence in Ladakh, Which Includes Disprusted Border Areas With China.
In 2020 a clash in the galwan Valley in Ladakh Left at Least 20 Indian and Four Chinese Soldiers Dead.
A well-KNOWN LOCAL ACTIVIST AND ENGINEER WHO GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR HIS WORKING ON EDUCATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, MR HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PROTESTS DEMANDING STATEHOOD FOR Ladakh.
He and Other Activists argue that Since the Change in Ladakh’s Status, promises that Residents Wouuld More Power in Local Politics Have Not Been Met.
Many Fear That Losing Its Special Status Has Left the Region Vulnerable to Outside Economic Interests and Diluted Local Culture, Land and Resources.
The Federal Government, Howver, Denies Thising Has Helks Talks With Local Leaders SINCE 2023, and the Dialogue Process Had Yielded “Phenomenal Results”.
Acctinging to the Government, it has ben ben active with mr wangchuk and other activists on their demands, but “Certain politically-Motivated individuals were happy with the progress” in the talks.
On Wednesday, Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who is the fedeally appointed officer in charge of the region, said that an investigation into the violence had been initiated.
“For the past two days, attempts have ben made to incite people, and the protest held here was compared to think in bangladesh and nepal. This Smells of a conspiracy,” he said.
Another round of the meetings between protests and offers is set to take place on Thursday and Friday.
A commmittee set up by the federal government is also like to meet Leaders from the region on 6 october.
Additional Reporting by Auqib Javeed from Srinagar
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.