Riot Demo In Indian Ladakh, 4 People Died

UNSPLASH/ev ILLUSTRATION

Four people were killed and dozens injured in the Ladakh, Himalayan, India region, as protesters demanding state status for the federal region and occupation quotas for local residents clashed with police.

The Buddhist-Muslim enclave lost its autonomy in 2019 when it was separated from Jammu and kolender states by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and placed under the direct government of New Delhi.

Protesters, led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, also wanted Ladakh to be given a special status that would allow the formation of elected local agencies to protect its ethnic territories.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party office in the main city of Leh is among buildings damaged and burned, according to news agency ANI, whose shares are owned by Reuters as a minority.

ANI's visual views show black smoke rising from behind the barrier walls of the office complex and in other places hundreds of people shouting slogans.

Indian TV channels broadcast police vehicles left with flames raging in front of them.

Local media reports said some young protesters threw stones at police and tear gas at them to disperse them.

More than 50 people, including 20 police personnel, were injured, a police source said.

"The frustration of the youths who took them to the streets. I urge the youth not to take this path of violence," said Wangchuk, who canceled his hunger strike which had been going on for two weeks after the violence.

"This is not a solution to Ladakh's problem. If our youth mourn and mourn that we are on a hunger strike, then we will stop our hunger strike starting today."

The offices of the Deputy Governor of Ladakh and the police did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Demonstrations, public gatherings, and inciting speech are prohibited from maintaining peace, district administrator Romil Singh Donk said in a public announcement.

Ladakh has a long border with China and is a strategic area for India.