From Hunger Strike to Bloodshed: LAB’s Statehood Protest Leaves Four Killed, 30 Injured in Leh

Leh, Sept 24: Four people lost their lives and at least 30 others sustained injuries in violent clashes that broke out in Leh on Wednesday during a shutdown called by the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB), officials confirmed. The shutdown, part of an ongoing agitation demanding statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, quickly escalated into a confrontation between protesters and security forces.

According to officials, the protestors, many of them mobilized by the LAB youth wing, turned violent after an initial phase of sloganeering and demonstrations. The agitators allegedly attacked a BJP office in Leh and vandalized several vehicles, prompting the security personnel deployed on the ground to resort to firing in order to bring the situation under control. While officials confirmed the casualties, protesters claimed that all four deaths were a result of police firing, further inflaming tempers.

The call for Wednesday’s shutdown came in solidarity with 15 activists who have been observing a hunger strike since September 10. The protest gained momentum late Tuesday after two of the fasting activists were shifted to hospital due to deteriorating health conditions, intensifying public anger and triggering large-scale mobilization on the streets of Leh.

Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as security forces clashed with stone-pelting mobs, forcing authorities to impose additional restrictions to prevent the situation from spiraling further. Hospitals in the area have been put on high alert to treat the injured, while local authorities are closely monitoring the law-and-order situation.

The LAB, a coalition of religious, social, and political groups, has been at the forefront of the demand for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. The latest incident underscores the growing frustration in the region .

With tensions running high, both the administration and community leaders are under pressure to prevent further escalation. Appeals for calm have been issued, but the incident marks a significant flashpoint in Ladakh’s political agitation, reflecting the depth of public impatience and the urgency of a negotiated resolution.