India imposes a curfew in Ladakh after the state protests turn into violence

The Indian security forces imposed a curfew in Leh, the capital of the Himalayan area in Laxim, after at least four people were killed in violent clashes between the police and the demonstrators who demand the state on the federal region.

Dozens were also wounded, and the BJP Ruler’s BJP office (BJP) was injured in the turmoil on Wednesday.

The government blamed the activist Sonam Wangsuk, who was leading the protests, for exciting violence, a claim that he denied.

In a mountainous desert with Muslim residents, she lost half of it in 2019 when the Bharatia Gatata government government divided it from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, and imposed a direct judgment on both.

The population of Ladgha is about 300,000 people and is bordered by China and Pakistan. It dominates the Leh region – where violence erupted – the Buddhist community, which has called for decades of time a separate area for its people. Meanwhile, she wanted to historically integrate Muslim Kashril County.

But since 2019, both gathered together joined the demand for the state’s restoration of smoke, along with more self -independence that will give them the job. And the shares of the earth.

It is not clear what caused violence on Wednesday – the protests were intermittently in the region for several months, and the state’s demands have collected greater support. But Wednesday’s violence was the worst that was seen for decades.

In a late night statement, the Federal Ministry of Interior in India blamed Mr. Wangsukok, who was affected by hunger, for disturbances, claiming that he had incited mobs by making provocative data.

“The hunger strike continued and people are misleading through the provocative signal of the protest, such as the Arab Spring and the signs to the protesters of the Gen-Z in Nepal.”

He said that the demonstrators attacked the local office of the Bharatia Jatata Party, set fire to the building and burned a police car, injuring at least 30 police personnel.

According to news agencies, the police fired bullets and tear gas that hit dozens of demonstrators. Four were seriously injured and later died.

“In the self -defense, the police were forced to resort to shooting, as some victims were unfortunately reported,” the Ministry of Interior’s statement added.

Mr. Wangsuk tired the hunger strike that he started on September 12 and appealed to calm, saying that violence “only harms our cause.”

He denied that he had any role in violence and said that the increasing frustration among young people is what led them to the streets, with the unemployed many of them for years.

India maintains a large presence of the forces in Ladakh, which includes disputed border areas with China.

In 2020, a clash left in the Gallowan Valley in Ladakh at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.

A famous local activist and engineer who gained national attention to his work in education and climate change, and Mr. Wangsuk was at the forefront of the protests demanding the state in the state.

He and other activists argue that since the change in the status of Ladakh, promises that the population will get more power in local policy has not been fulfilled.

Many fear that the loss of its previous private situation has left the region vulnerable to external economic interests and diligent control of culture, lands and resources.

However, the federal government denies this saying that it had conversations with local leaders since 2023 and the dialogue process has resulted in “huge results.”

According to the government, she actively participated with Mr. Wangsuk and other activists in their demands, but “some individuals who have political motives were not happy to progress” in the talks.

On Wednesday, Lieutenant to Edge Cavinder Gupta, a federal officer responsible for the region, said that the investigation of violence had begun.

During the past two days, attempts were made to incite people, and the protest was compared here with those detained in Bangladesh and Nepal. This is the smell of the plot. “

Another round of meetings between demonstrators and officials is scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday.

A committee established by the federal government will also meet the region’s leaders on October 6.

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