Violent protests break out at BJP office in Ladakh’s Leh amid shutdown seeking Statehood

Violent protests erupted outside the BJP office in Leh town during a shutdown call issued by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh over the Centre’s delay to hold “result-oriented” talks over several long pending demands, which include granting Statehood and Sixth Schedule status to the region.

Preliminary reports suggested that supporters of the LAB, an amalgam of religious social and political organisations, assembled outside the BJP office in Leh to register their protest over the Centre not resuming talks with representatives of Ladakh over a series of demands, with Statehood and Sixth Schedule status topping the list.

Locals told The Hindu that violence broke out when the police tried to disperse the LAB protesters assembling outside the BJP office. The