Leh- At least 50 people have been detained after police and paramilitary forces imposed curfew on Thursday, a day after violent protests in Leh. Four people were killed and over 80 others were injured in the widespread clashes on Wednesday. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) had called for a bandh on Wednesday demanding statehood for Ladakh and extension of the 6th Schedule in the union territory, which later turned into violence, arson and clashes on the roads.
A ban has been imposed on gatherings of five or more people in other major towns, including Kargil. It is worth noting that the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had called for the bandh in support of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for the past 35 days for the above demands.
Wangchuk had called off her hunger strike the previous day after violent clashes in Leh city. Protesters had set fire to the BJP office and several vehicles. They also vandalised the Hill Council headquarters, due to which an indefinite curfew was imposed in the city.
A police official told this news agency that the situation in the curfew areas was completely under control and no untoward incident was reported anywhere. The official said that around 50 people involved in the violence have been detained. The official said that three Nepalese nationals were also among the injured and the police were investigating whether any foreign force was behind the violence.