In a troubling turn of events, protests in Leh, Ladakh, escalated into violence, leading to four deaths and over 30 injuries. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the unrest, suggesting that protesters are being incited by comparisons to youth-led movements in Bangladesh and Nepal that resulted in government overthrows.

Gupta stated, "In a democratic system, protesting is a right. However, it must be done in a peaceful manner. For the past two days, attempts have been made to incite people, and the protest held here was compared to those held in Bangladesh and Nepal. This smells of a conspiracy behind the protest." He expressed concern over the potential consequences had the authorities not intervened, noting that police were prepared for violence.

He described a specific incident where an attempt was made to harm Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, stating, "What kind of justice is this? Will we let our soldiers die like this?" Gupta also mentioned that stones were thrown at the Director General of Police's vehicle.

In response to the violence, he announced that an investigation would be conducted to identify those responsible for inciting the protests. "Who is responsible for the people who have died today? It is those people who incited the protest. Such things cannot be tolerated. I want to ensure peace is maintained in Ladakh," he added.

The protests are rooted in demands for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which pertains to the governance of tribal areas in the northeast. There have also been ongoing calls for statehood for both Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir since the bifurcation of the former state into two Union territories. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been leading the protests with a hunger strike, called off his fast following the outbreak of violence.