Wed Sep 24 08:35:51 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article based on the provided text, along with a summary:

**Summary:**

Violent protests erupted in Leh, Ladakh, on September 24, 2025, during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB). The protests, which included the torching of a security vehicle and stone pelting, stemmed from frustration over the central government’s delay in holding “result-oriented” talks regarding Ladakh’s demands for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status. The protests were sparked by the hospitalization of two hunger strikers supporting these demands and are occurring amidst upcoming local elections and against the backdrop of ongoing agitation led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuck, who has rejected the government’s proposed talks in October as insufficient. The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has also issued a shutdown call in support of the LAB.

**News Article:**

**Violent Protests Erupt in Leh Over Statehood Demand**

**Leh, Ladakh – September 24, 2025** – Violent protests gripped Leh today as demonstrators clashed with police outside the BJP office. The unrest was triggered by a shutdown call from the Leh Apex Body (LAB), an umbrella group advocating for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Reports indicate that protesters gathered outside the BJP office to express their frustration with the central government’s perceived inaction on long-pending demands. The situation escalated when police attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to stone pelting and the use of teargas. A security vehicle was torched during the clashes, according to officials.

The protests come amidst rising tensions in Ladakh. Two protesters, who had been on a hunger strike since September 10 alongside prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuck, were hospitalized on Tuesday, further fueling public discontent.

Wangchuck, a key figure in the movement advocating for Ladakh’s demands, recently criticized the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposed meeting in October between the High-Powered Committee (HPC) and representatives of the LAB and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Wangchuck, who is on a five-week hunger strike, insists on immediate and “result-oriented” talks to address the region’s concerns.

In solidarity with the LAB, the Kargil Democratic Alliance has called for a shutdown on Thursday.

The unrest occurs as Ladakh prepares for the upcoming Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections next month. The BJP won the previous elections in 2020. Ladakh was established as a Union Territory in 2019 after being carved out of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Authorities have deployed additional forces to restore order. An investigation into the events leading to the violence is underway.

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