'They celebrated UT status in 2019, now feel betrayed': Omar Abdullah on Ladakh protest

Clashes erupted after protesters demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards set vehicles on fire, including a police van and a BJP office.

Police resorted to firing after the situation spiraled out of control. Among the injured were 22 police personnel.

Reacting to the incident, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said the unrest should serve as an “eye-opener.”

“Ladakh wasn’t even promised statehood, they celebrated UT status in 2019 and now feel betrayed and angry. Imagine how betrayed and disappointed we in J&K feel when the promise of statehood remains unfulfilled, despite our democratic and peaceful demands,” Abdullah posted on X.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti echoed his concerns, warning that the Centre must go beyond “day-to-day crisis management.”

“It’s time the Government of India undertakes a sincere appraisal of what has truly changed since 2019. This video isn’t from Kashmir Valley, considered the epicentre of unrest, but from Ladakh, where angry protesters torched police vehicles and a BJP office,” she wrote on X.

Mehbooba added that Leh, once known for its peaceful and measured protests, now reflects a disturbing shift toward violent demonstrations, underscoring what she called the deepening alienation in the region.

The clashes followed a complete shutdown call given by the protesters, who have been pressing for Ladakh’s statehood and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

For the past two weeks, noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike in support of the demands.

The violence comes just days ahead of a scheduled meeting on October 6 between the Leh Apex Body and the Centre to resume dialogue on Ladakh’s political future.

Since Ladakh’s separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and its designation as a Union Territory, discontent has grown over direct Central rule.

Initially welcomed by many in Leh, the move soon led to demands for political representation, land and resource protection, and safeguards for Ladakh’s unique culture.

Over the past three years, mass protests and hunger strikes have been jointly organised by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, uniting the Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil under a single platform.

Multiple rounds of talks with the Centre have failed to yield an agreement, with local leaders accusing the Union government of rejecting their core demands.

Wednesday’s clashes mark a major flashpoint in the movement and are likely to heighten tensions ahead of the government’s upcoming talks with Ladakhi representatives.