Riot Demo In Ladakh India Kills 4 People, Police Implement Curfew

Illustration. Demo ended in chaos. (Norbu Gyachung-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Indian government tightened border security in two main districts in the remote area of Ladakh on Thursday, September 25.

The increase in security the day after four people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between police and hundreds of protesters demanding greater autonomy from the Indian government for Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh.

The Indian government has banned residents of the two districts from gathering more than five people after the clashes occurred which closed shops and business offices in Kargil on Wednesday, September 24.

Hundreds of paramilitary police and soldiers patrolled the streets and imposed a curfew in Leh today.

"The curfew has been put in place as a precautionary measure to prevent more casualties," said New Delhi's highest police administrator in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor of Kafinder Gupta, according to the Press Trust of India news agency, Thursday, September 25.

Local officials said police detained at least 40 people overnight in Leh after clashes broke out.

A local figure, Sajjad Kargili, urged the Government of India to order officials who secure the masses not to act repressively and prioritize dialogue as soon as possible in responding to the aspirations of the people.

Clashes erupted in Ladakh after demonstrations led to riots on Wednesday.

Protesters threw stones at the officers guarding the demonstration in Leh District.

Other demonstrators also burned police vehicles, paramilitary cars, India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party office, and several other government buildings.

The police responded by firing tear gas and swinging a stick at the demonstrators which resulted in the death of four people and injuring dozens more.

Located between India, Pakistan, and China, Ladakh was separated from India's controllable cap after New Delhi lifted state status and the semi-autonomi of the disputed region in 2019.

Despite being largely silenced by crackdowns on dissent and a series of new laws, the demands for political rights in Ladakh have escalated in recent years.