Sonam Wangchuk Ends Hunger Strike Following Violent Clash in Leh

Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday said he would call off his 15-day hunger strike in Leh after the eruption of violent protests over Ladakh's statehood demand.

Following the disturbance, Wangchuk called for peace, advising people against violence, citing that it dilutes the cause.

The Leh situation intensified as protesters engaged the police in baton charges and stone pelting, while the police retaliated with teargas and baton charges to take back control.

Keep up with the breaking news on the Ladakh protests.

The protest had been called by the youth wing of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) following two of the 15 members of a 35-day hunger strike that began on September 10 being hospitalized on Tuesday night for their poor health.

Plumes of smoke and fire were seen amidst a total shutdown of the Ladakh capital. Authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, banning a gathering of five or more people, officials confirmed.

At a press briefing following the protest, Wangchuk emphasized that negotiations with the Centre regarding Ladakh's statehood should be done prior to the suggested October 6 deadline.

"I appeal to the young people of Ladakh to end violence immediately because it causes damage to our cause and makes things worse," Wangchuk said.

"People are upset. After starving people for 16 days, meeting was summoned. People are insisting on the meeting taking place much before October 6," he added.

The hunger strike was to pressure for the negotiation to go ahead with the Centre to discuss the extension of the Sixth Schedule and statehood for Ladakh. The Sixth Schedule to the Constitution dealing with the administration of the tribal people in the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam has special provisions dealing with governance, powers of the president and governor, nature of local bodies, alternative judicial bodies, and fiscal powers exercised through autonomous councils.