Srinagar, Sept. 26 -- For 14 days since September 10, when climate activist Sonam Wangchuk supported by members of Leh Apex Body(LAB) started a hunger strike in Leh demanding statehood , every day scores of people from villages would descend to the venue for showing their support and replace those who would be sitting with the 15 odd hunger strikers. But Wednesday was different. Instead of dozens or hundreds, thousands turned up at the venue at NDS memorial park, many of them young men and teenagers. The immediate trigger had been deterioration of health of two elderly protesters - Tsering Angchuk, 72, and Tashi Dolma, 60, - who had to be hospitalised. "Every day people from the village would come to participate and replace others. On Tuesday, two elderly people had to be admitted to hospital. This provoked people and on Wednesday an exceptionally large number of people came. It was like all the Gen-Z of Ladakh," said Leh Apex Body co-chairman, Chering Dorjay , who was present at the venue and even tried to stop the angry protesters. The LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been spearheading an agitation in the last five years pressing for their demands on statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh after it was split away from Jammu and Kashmir following abrogation of Article 370. There have been protests, hunger strikes and even footmarches by the Ladakhis for the past five years in support of their demands. Climate activist and a vociferous supporter of statehood, Sonam Wangchuk, who led a footmarch to Delhi earlier, said that the health issue of the two elderly hunger strikers moved the people of Ladakh particularly the younger generation. "The youth organisations together gave a call for Ladakh Bandh and all the people gathered at the site of fast. As the program was going on, a big chunk of people broke away from this group and went out raising slogans and later we heard that they had gone on a rampage to break offices and burn police vehicles and a BJP office in Leh. Varying accounts say 2,000-5,000 youth had come," he said. Officials, however, say that the build up of the anger has been owing to alleged provocative speeches by those on hunger strike which was started by Sonam Wangchuk on September 10. Leh DC Romil Singh said several individuals began circulating voice messages in groups and social media platforms urging the youth to gather in large numbers at the NDS memorial park on Sep 24. "At 11.30 am youth started going outside the venue blocking roads and becoming increasingly agitated. The crowd then marched towards Ladakh Autonomous Hill development Council Leh, started pelting stones and tried to enter the office. Though there was stone pelting, police and CRPF stopped their entry. A few protesters managed to enter the complex and put the council assembly hall on fire," Singh said. LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay said that the huge crowd became uncontrollable for them. "We couldn't contain their anger, although we tried. First they vandalised the office of LAHDC , Leh office, half a kilometer away. They attacked the assembly of the council. Then the protesters marched towards the BJP office which is around another half a kilometer away and torched it. Nearby was a police vehicle that was also burnt down. There was a lot of damage," Dorjay said. Then the protesters also pelted stones on the vehicle of DGP Ladakh and the clashes continued. The police, to control the situation, fired tear gas shells and also opened fire leading to deaths of four protesters. "The unruly mob attacked the police personnel in which more than 30 police/CRPF personnel were injured. The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence, police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported," said a statement by the Union home ministry stating that the situation was brought under control by 4 pm. "It is clear that the mob was incited by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements. Incidentally, amid these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation," the statement said. A police officer of Leh said that around 5,000 people had gathered at the venue of the fast who were mostly youths. "We were assured that they will remain peaceful. However around 11.30 the mob became violent. They set fire to the BJP office, one of our police vehicles and council secretariat. This led to many injuries including 50 of our police and CRPF men. Some people also died in the incident," he said. Then the admin imposed restrictions under Section 163 BNS (144 Cr PC) and ultimately LG Kavinder Gupta announced curfew in a video message. He suspected conspiracy in this incident. "A group participated in the protest and came out resulting in stone pelting and arson incidents. Those who are behind this will be investigated and they are the ones responsible for the loss of lives ," he said. However, Sonam Wangchuk said the protests were completely organic and were result of frustration of youth as centre fulfilled none of its promises. He denounced the use of violence by youth and said that it has overpowered their five years of peaceful protests. Amid the chaos, allegations surfaced about the role of Congress councillor Stanzin Tsepang in the protest. BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Tsepang is the main instigator behind the Ladakh violence. "Numerous photos have surfaced of him and his workers instigating the violence. He is instigating the mob and targeting BJP office. A video of this has also surfaced," Patra said. Wangchuk said he doesn't believe the Congress holds such influence over Ladakh youths. "A Congress councillor was in anger because two people from his village were hospitalised, but I don't think Congress has such influence in Ladakh that 5,000 youth will come out because of them," he said....