Leh, Sept. 24 -- Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday, September 24, called off his 15-day hunger strike as the movement for statehood for Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule took a violent turn, with the BJP office and several vehicles set on fire and hundreds of people taking to the streets.

Prohibitory orders were imposed soon after banning the gathering of five or more people as the protests intensified.

Flames and dark smoke clouds could be seen from afar amid a complete shutdown in the Ladakh capital.

The administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS to ban the assembly of five or more people, officials said.

"I request the youth of Ladakh to stop the violence forthwith, as it only causes...