Ladakh protest: Sonam Wangchuk calls off hunger strike, four Killed, over 70 injured

Ladakh protest: Sonam Wangchuk, the climate activist on Wednesday called off his 15-day long hunger strike. He took the decision as the statehood row for Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule turned into a violent protest. Several vehicles were set on fire due to the protest and huge crowd gathered on the streets. 

Sharing a video message on his social media handle, Sonam Wangchuk, appealed the youth to remain peaceful and stop violence. Taking to his social media handle X, Sonam Wangchuk said, ''VERY SAD EVENTS IN LEH My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.''

VERY SAD EVENTS IN LEH

My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause.#LadakhAnshan pic.twitter.com/CzTNHoUkoC

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 24, 2025

Notably, Sonam Wangchuk has called off his 15-day hunger strike and has also urged for peace as the movement took a violent turn, demanding statehood of Ladakh and extending the Sixth Schedule. 

Sonam Wangchuk ends 15-day hunger strike in Leh amid intense clashes, tells supporters he doesn't want more trouble. pic.twitter.com/giYIlGMzct

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 24, 2025

What's the reason of Protest?

A violent protest erupted in Ladakh's Leh on Wednesday after the health condition of Wangchuk's two supporters started deteriorating during his hunger strike. Notably, they were demanding statehood for the cold desert region.

What BJP said about the protest?

The BJP through a post on X, blamed the Congress for instigating the violence. Amit Malviya in his X post, shared a series of picture and wrote, ''This man rioting in Ladakh is Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag, Congress Councillor for Upper Leh Ward. He can be clearly seen instigating the mob and participating in violence that targeted the BJP office and the Hill Council. Is this the kind of unrest Rahul Gandhi has been fantasising about?''

As per reports, in the ongoing Ladakh Statehood protests, as many as four people were killed and over 70 were injured as the protest turned violent in Leh. Notably the protestors also set ablaze the BJP office.