After protests and deaths, the crackdown: 50 people picked up, Congress councillor booked in Leh

The deaths took place when police fired at the protesters after the situation spiralled out of control.

“We have a zero tolerance approach towards violence and anybody involved will face the consequences,” a police officer said. “We have started identifying the rioters and their instigators. So far, we have picked up over 50 people.”

On Wednesday evening, Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta had said that the protesters were “responsible” for the death of four people. “I do not only have hope, I have complete faith that the people who are behind this (violent protest) will be investigated,” Gupta said in an address to the people of Ladakh. “The lives that have been lost today, they (the protesters) are responsible for it. We have put curfew in place; people who have spoiled the atmosphere will not be spared.”

The Congress councillor who was booked has been identified as Stanzin Tsepag. On Wednesday, a picture of a masked man with a stick in his hand went viral on social media, and the BJP claimed the photo was of him.

Hours after the violence and police firing, the Centre had said the “mob was incited” by activist Sonam Wangchuk’s “provocative statements”. It said “certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress” in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakh groups, and “have been trying to sabotage the dialogue process”.

“The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are an integral part of the discussion in the HPC. In spite of many leaders urging (him) to call off the hunger strike, he continued … misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

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