Following a day of intense clashes in Ladakh that left four people dead and over 80 injured, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta chaired a crucial security review meeting in Leh. The violence erupted during a shutdown organized by a faction of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which was pressing for accelerated talks with the Central government regarding statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office issued a statement emphasizing his call for “heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across the UT.” Senior officials from the police, CRPF, and civil administration attended the meeting, engaging in a detailed discussion about the prevailing law and order situation in the region.
On Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators advocating for Ladakh’s statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule engaged in widespread violence. They reportedly set the local BJP office and several vehicles ablaze, leading authorities to impose a curfew in Leh and its surrounding areas. The Central government attributed the mob violence to “provocative statements” made by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, suggesting that certain “politically motivated” individuals were undermining ongoing negotiations between government representatives and Ladakhi groups. In the aftermath of the Wednesday violence, Mr. Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike in Leh to support these demands, announced its cessation.