Protests demanding statehood for Ladakh took a violent turn today as members of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) clashed with police and set fire to the local BJP office. The protest, now in its 14th day, has escalated from a peaceful hunger strike and street demonstrations into a volatile situation, with local police struggling to maintain control.

According to reports, the confrontation began when tensions flared between protesters and the police. The LAB's youth wing, leading the charge, is accused of setting the BJP office ablaze in a clear sign of their growing frustration.

Protesters allege that the central and local governments have failed to address their demands. The situation reportedly worsened after the health of two of the 15 protesters, who have been on a hunger strike since September 10, deteriorated. This led the youth wing to call for a massive protest and a bandh (shutdown), which quickly turned violent. XIAOMI 14 Civi Shadow Black (8GB RAM 256GB Storage) | 50 MP Leica Triple Camera| SD 8s Gen 3 | 1.5K Quad Curved AMOLED HyperOS

During the demonstration, police used tear gas and reportedly resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, while protesters set fire to several vehicles. The LAB leaders are demanding that Ladakh be granted full statehood and be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, vowing not to end their agitation until their demands are met.

Videos of the clashes, including stone-pelting and arson, have gone viral on Twitter. Additional police forces have been deployed to the area to bring the deteriorating law and order situation under control. Also Read: Karnataka CM and Deputy CM Attend CWC Meeting in Bihar, Kharge Criticises BJP.!