Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike amid violence in Ladakh over statehood demand

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday ended his 15day hunger strike as protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule turned violent news agency PTI reportedThe agitation saw the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP office and several vehicles set ablaze with hundreds of protesters taking to the streets prompting a complete shutdown in LehThick smoke and flames were visible from a distance as the unrest escalated In response the administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS banning the assembly of five or more people reported PTI quoting officialsI request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith as it only causes harm to our cause and further deteriorates the situation We do not want instability in Ladakh and the country Wangchuk told a large gathering of supporters at the site of his hunger strikeTeargas shells could be heard in the background as clashes continued PTI reportedWangchuk also posted a video message on his X handle urging the youth to remain peaceful and stop all acts of violenceThe Ladakh Apex Body LAB youth wing had called for the protest after two of the 15 hunger strikers who had been fasting since September 10 were hospitalised owing to deteriorating health on Tuesday eveningThe Constitutionrsquos Sixth Schedule currently applicable in the states of Tripura Meghalaya Mizoram and Assam provides for autonomous district councils with special powers in governance judiciary and financemdashmeasures the Ladakh movement wants extended to the regionMomentum behind the movement has been building steadily with a new round of talks scheduled between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ladakh representativesmdashcomprising LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance KDA membersmdashon October 6 The two bodies have jointly led the fouryearlong agitation holding multiple rounds of dialogue with the CentreIn response to the protest call Leh town shut down completely Large crowds gathered at the NDS memorial ground before marching through the streets chanting slogans in favor of statehood and the Sixth Schedule officials saidThe situation deteriorated when some protestors began pelting stones at the BJP and Hill Council headquarters Police and paramilitary forces deployed across the town fired teargas shells to disperse the crowdGroups of youth set a security vehicle and other cars on fire and attacked the BJP office setting fire to furniture documents and one of the buildings Reinforcements were rushed in and officials monitoring the situation said it took several hours to regain controlTensions intensified following the Centrersquos invitation to the LAB and KDA for renewed talks on September 20mdash10 days after Wangchuk began his hunger strike Emotions flared further when hunger strikers Tsering Angchuk 72 and Tashi Dolma 60 were hospitalized prompting the LAB to urge the government to advance the talksFormer MP and LAB chairperson Thupstan Chhewang who had stepped down after the previous round of talks on May 27 has returned to lead the delegation for the upcoming negotiationsThe Congress party opted out of the LAB after some members called for a nonpolitical delegation given the upcoming Leh Hill Council elections next monthMeanwhile the KDA announced a complete shutdown in Kargil on Thursday expressing solidarity with those on hunger strike and demanding that the Centre expedite the talksWith PTI inputs