At least four persons were killed and over 65 injured when protests over the demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh turned violent in Leh district on Wednesday. The protesters torched the BJP office and some vehicles, and tried to storm into the Hill Council building.

The police resorted to firing and tear gas shelling to disperse the youth, who pelted them as well as CRPF personnel with stones.

The injured were taken to Sonam Nurboo Memorial Hospital in Leh. Dr Rinchen Chosdol, medical superintendent of the hospital, told The Tribune that many of them had suffered pellet injuries. The violence started around 11.30 am. Shocked over the developments, environment activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his 35-day hunger strike over the demand for statehood and the Sixth Schedu

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