Ladakh in turmoil: Centre must thwart attempts to derail talks

LADAKH’s long-preserved, much-cherished peace has been shattered by bloodshed and arson. Protests over key demands — statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule — spiralled out of control on Wednesday. Four persons lost their lives in clashes between protestors and police personnel in Leh, leading to the imposition of curfew. The developments are all the more disturbing as the Centre’s representatives are in the middle of negotiations with influential groups from the UT. The violence has forced renowned Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk to cut short his hunger strike. In an attempt to soothe frayed tempers, he has asserted that “we do not want instability in Ladakh and the country”.