Amnesty International on Thursday urged Indian authorities to promptly and independently investigate the use of live fire during protests in Leh, Ladakh, after at least four people were reported killed and more than 50 were injured.

Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India’s board, called for de-escalation and respect for the right to peaceful protest, stating: “Any use of firearms in the context of an assembly must be an absolute last resort … The indiscriminate use of firearms against protesters is always unlawful.”

Local officials and witnesses said the clashes erupted as demonstrators pressed long-standing demands for statehood and constitutional protections for land and jobs. Police said they responded after parts of the crowd turned violent, with vehicles and a ruling

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