‘Outside hands at play’: Ladakh LG links violent protests to conspiracy after CRPF, DG vehicles attacked

CRPF vehicle torched, probe ordered into outside involvement as statehood, Sixth Schedule demands escalate

The Ladakh protests for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion spiraled into violence this week, leaving the Union Territory on edge. Demonstrators stormed government buildings and targeted the BJP office in Leh, torching vehicles and pelting stones at security forces, ANI reported.

At least four people have died since protests began, while dozens, including police personnel, were injured.

LG calls unrest a ‘conspiracy’

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta condemned the violence, suggesting that attempts were being made to incite unrest.

“In a democratic system, protesting is a right. However, it must be done peacefully. For the past two days, attempts have been made to incite people, and the protest held here was compared to those held in Bangladesh and Nepal. This smells of a conspiracy behind the protest,” Gupta told ANI.

Police vehicles attacked, city nearly overrun

Gupta warned that the violence could have engulfed all of Leh if the authorities had not acted quickly.

“When police were deployed to control the law and order situation, a CRPF vehicle was torched. During the protest, the DG’s vehicle was attacked with stones. If this protest had not been stopped, then these people would have ruined the entire city of Leh,” he said.

Probe into external role

The LG said an investigation will probe whether individuals from outside Ladakh were involved in fanning the protests.

“A probe will be conducted to determine the involvement of individuals from outside Ladakh in the protest. Who is responsible for the people who have died today? It is those people who incited the protest. Such things cannot be tolerated... I want to ensure peace is maintained in Ladakh,” Gupta said.

Demands driving the agitation

The protests are part of a long-standing movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently applies to tribal regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

The Sixth Schedule offers tribal autonomy over land, culture, and governance. Protesters argue that Ladakh’s unique cultural and demographic identity needs similar safeguards, especially after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory without its own legislature.