Security tight after deadly autonomy protests in Ladakh that is occupied by India

• Police vehicle protesters, Bharatiya Janata Party offices.
• Protests were organized in solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk.
• The Modi government was separated by Iiojk in 2019.

Indian police patrolled the northern city of Leh on Thursday, the day after protests that demanded greater autonomy for the Himalayas territory of occupied Ladakh who became deadly when the security forces opened fire.

At least five people were killed and about 100 injured, including 30 police officers.

The city – usually busy with tourists – appeared abandoned, with most main roads blocked by Razor Wire’s coils and kept by police at Riot Gear, a AFP said the journalist.

A doctor at Leh’s SNM hospital said he had been facing about 100 injured since Wednesday, some of them police.

“We have operated on six injured, three of them had bullet injuries and other internal breast bleeding and broken side,” said the doctor, who asked not to be identified.

Protests broke out on Wednesday, with crowds demanding more autonomy in the sparsely populated high -altitude desert area that hosts about 300,000 people and bordering China and Pakistan.

The India Interior Ministry said a “unruly mob” had attacked the police, reporting a statement late Wednesday that “more than 30” officers were injured.

The protesters dug a police vehicle and the offices of the Hindu-nationalist-nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while officers shot tear gas and used sticks to scatter crowds.

“In self -defense, the police had to resort to the firing, which unfortunately reported some losses,” the statement said. He did not give details about deaths.

However, a police officer said AFP that “five deaths were reported after protests”. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to speak with journalists.

Thinley, 33 years old, who manages a car spare parts shop in Leh, was shot on the leg.

“We are exhausted by the government, not listening to our demands,” said Thinley, who gave only one name, he said AFP from his hospital bed.

Jigmet Stanzin, 23, said he was injured when he tried to throw back what he thought was a tear gas container.

“He praised and broke my hand,” he said.

‘He was betrayed and angry’

A police unit was guarding the Vandalized BJP office on Thursday, along with the debris of a burned security vehicle.

Paras Pandy, 27, an Indian tourist, walked on his own along the highway from Leh with a heavy backpack, looking for a walk out.

“Everything is closed. I couldn’t get food from yesterday,” Paras said. “All I could see yesterday was chaos, tobacco and the broken vehicles.”

About half of Ladakh residents are Muslims and about 40% are Buddhists.

It is classified as “Union territories” – which means that it elects legislators in the Parliament of India, but is directly governed by New Delhi.

Wednesday’s demonstrations were organized solidarity with prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been released from hunger, calling for either a complete federal state affair for Ladakh or for constitutional protections for his racial communities, land and fragile environment.

New Delhi said that the protests were “prompted by his provocative speeches” and pointed out that efforts were continuing to discuss his governance.

The Modi government was separated by Ladakh from Indian illegally occupied Jammos and Kashmir in 2019, imposing an immediate rule on both.

New Delhi has not yet fulfilled its promise to include Ladakh in the “sixth timetable” of the India Constitution, which allows people to make their own laws and policies.

Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Iiojk, said people in Ladakh felt “betrayed and angry”.

The army of India has a great presence in occupied Ladakh, which includes controversial areas with China. The troops from the two countries clashed there in 2020, killing at least 20 Indians and four Chinese soldiers.