The ongoing protest by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) turned violent on Wednesday (September 24) as demonstrators clashed with the police in the city. Police
fired teargas shells and resorted to baton charge after a group of youths allegedly turned violent and pelted stones amid a massive protest and shutdown in Leh. The protest was being held in support of the demand to advance the proposed talks with the Centre on the extension of Sixth Schedule as well as statehood to Ladakh. The Leh Apex Body's youth wing had given a call for protest and shutdown on Wednesday after two of the 15 people, who were on a 35-day hunger strike since September 10, were shifted to a hospital after their condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening. The hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was also part of the ongoing agitation in the region. The protestors torched a security vehicle outside the BJP office in Leh. Additional forces have been deployed in th region to restore order.
A fresh round of talks is scheduled between the Centre and Ladakh representatives, comprising members of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on October 6.
The LAB had demanded an immediate meeting with the central government on Monday, warning that public patience is wearing thin. It had said that its leaders would not end their hunger strike until their demands of statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule are met.
"Our protest is peaceful, but people are getting impatient. The situation may get out of our hands... The talks have already been delayed. We have informed the government that we cannot end the hunger strike until some agreement is reached," LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey said.
The LAB has also claimed that they were not consulted before the finalisation of the date for the meeting.
