Ladakh Police removed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from a protest site and escorted him home, hours after he opposed the December 4 hill council elections, citing harsh winter conditions.
Photo : ANI
Leh: Ladakh Police on Wednesday removed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site and escorted him to his residence, asking him to remain indoors, an official said.
The action came hours after Wangchuk, along with leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), raised objections to the decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections on December 4. They cited harsh winter conditions and the large-scale migration of people from the region during this period.
In a public notice, Ladakh Police said the action was taken under orders restricting public rallies, protests and gatherings within the Leh Municipal limits during the ongoing election process.
Ladakh Director General of Police Anand Jain said in a post on X, “Sonam Wangchuk has been advised to stay at his residence in view of the prohibitory orders issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, UT Ladakh, and the District Magistrate, Leh.”
Apart from the LAHDC elections, Ladakh is also scheduled to hold Municipal and Panchayat elections on November 21.
The LAB and KDA have been leading an agitation demanding constitutional safeguards and statehood for Ladakh. The two groups are also engaged in talks with the Centre over their demands.
On Wednesday, the groups appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and help defer the December 4 LAHDC elections.
Wangchuk later led a protest in Leh, demanding that the council elections be postponed.