Gen-Z Uprising Turns Bloody in Ladakh: Four Killed, Dozens Injured

A violent protest led by Generation Z has rocked Ladakh, leaving at least four people dead and over fifty others injured. The movement, which began peacefully, escalated on Wednesday when demonstrators set fire to the regional office of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In Leh, the capital city, student groups and young demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in multiple casualties. Authorities deployed additional troops, confirming that several security personnel were also injured in the confrontation.

For six years, Ladakh residents have organized peaceful marches and hunger strikes, demanding constitutional protection and statehood in place of direct central rule. They argue that such changes would restore the region’s democratic rights and allow the election of a local government.

However, frustration grew after prolonged delays in dialogue with the Modi administration. Sonam Wangchuk, an educationist leading the hunger strike campaign, said that “disillusioned youth abandoned the peaceful path,” describing the protest as a Gen-Z movement comparable to recent South Asian uprisings.

On Wednesday morning, the Ladakh Apex Body’s indefinite hunger strike reached its 15th day. After two elderly strikers were hospitalized, a shutdown was announced. Enraged youths then marched from the protest site toward government buildings and the BJP office, sparking deadly clashes.

Sonam Wangchuck

“This is the bloodiest day in Ladakh’s history,” said Jigmat Paljor, one of the protest coordinators. “False promises over the past five years have fueled anger, and today the youth paid the price.”

The protesters are pressing for constitutional safeguards under India’s Sixth Schedule, which ensures limited self-governance for tribal regions. Since Ladakh lost its statehood and legislature in 2019, locals have also been struggling with rising unemployment and lack of representation.

Despite one of India’s highest literacy rates (97%), Ladakh faces severe youth joblessness, with nearly 27% of graduates unemployed — double the national average. Analysts warn that this combination of broken promises and rising frustration has turned into a volatile crisis.