India, Sept. 24 -- The central government has pointedly blamed activist Sonam Wangchuk for the violence in Leh as the ongoing stir for statehood for Ladakh turned into mob fury anc claimed five lives in police action on Wednesday.

It said Wangchuk - the most prominent face of the stir since it began around 2019-20 - was "misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal".

Wangchuk had not yet reacted to this assertion by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) made after 10 pm, though he condemned the violent turn of the protest in the afternoon and announced an end to his hunger strike in disgust.

The home ministry led by Amit Shah, in a statement, noted that Sonam Wang...