Ladakh Protest News | As Ladakh Erupts, Sonam Wangchuk's "Gen-Z" Remark, An Appeal For Peace

Shortly after a protest to demand statehood for Ladakh turned violent in Leh, activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his fast and said his "message of peaceful path failed". "On the 15th day of our strike, I am pained to say that several incidents of violence, arson and vandalism took place in Leh today. Two people on strike had to be hospitalised yesterday. This sparked outrage. A bandh was announced today, and thousands of youngsters hit the streets," he said in a video message on X. Four people were killed and several injured in the intense clashes today. Mr Wangchuk said the youth's outburst today was a "kind of Gen-Z revolution". "They have been jobless for five years. This is a recipe for social unrest. There is no democratic platform here," he said. "I appealed to the youngsters to shun the path of violence. This nullifies my five-year struggle. We have been holding strikes, marches, and violence is not our path. I appeal to the youngsters with folded hands, we must talk to the government peacefully. And the government must hear us out. We are holding strike after strike, we walked from Leh to Delhi, but nothing was heard.