Ladakh protest: Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike, calls for peace amid Leh violence, says Gen-Z ‘frustrated’ with…

Ladakh protest: Renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday ended his 15-day hunger strike after violent protests erupted in Leh over the demands of statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule. Expressing grief over the violence, Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike in Leh over the twin demands, called off the hunger strike after a large number of youths took to the streets.

Why youths resorted to violence in Leh?

Addressing a online presser, Sonam Wangchuk said there was frustration brewing within the youth of Ladakh because peaceful protests were not yielding any results. The climate activist said the violent protests on Wednesday were triggered likely after two elderly protesters– a 72-year-old man and a woman (62)– were injured on Tuesday.

Wangchuk also claimed that “three to five youths have been killed” during the protests. However, there is no official confirmation about any deaths so far.

“Two people were taken to the hospital yesterday. That appears to be the immediate trigger… It moved the younger generation. Youths of Ladakh together gave a call for Ladakh bandh, and all the people gathered at the site where we were sitting on a fast. As the programme was progressing with prayer and speeches, a group of young people went out raising slogans. Later, we heard they went on a rampage, burnt police vehicles and the BJP office in Leh,” Wangchuk said, according to news agency PTI.

What happened during Leh protest?

Thousands of youth took to the streets in Leh on Wednesday to press their demand for statehood to Ladakh and the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule. The protests turned violent as the agitators resorted to arson, torching the local BJP office and several vehicles, and clashing with the police.

Local authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Leh district of Ladakh, banning assembly of five or more persons.

According to Wangchuk, about 2,000-5,000 ‘Gen Z’ youths took to the streets after they came to the protest site on Wednesday, where prayers were being held. “No one knew something like this would happen. Thousands came out and this situation was created,”

Did opposition parties organise Ladakh protest?

Asked whether any opposition political parties fanned the Ladakh protest, Wangchuk replied that “political parties in Ladakh are not competent enough to organise thousands of youth… There is frustration in their hearts”

“The Gen Z, who took to the streets, we had not even seen them at the protest. This was a general complaint here that the youths are not participating in the protest,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)