Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested in Leh on Friday, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution left four people dead and 90 others injured, officials said.
Wangchuk was taken into custody by a police team led by Ladakh Deputy General of Police (DGP) SD Singh Jamwal around 2:30 pm, according to officials. It was not immediately clear what charges were pressed against him.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier blamed Wangchuk, a senior member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), for provoking the violence. The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading the agitation for more than five years.
Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike supporting the demands, denied the charges. He condemned the violence and ended his fortnight-long fast on Wednesday after the protests turned violent.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, remain in force in Leh following the September 24 clashes. The assembly of five or more persons has been banned in the district, and no procession, rally, or march can be carried out without prior written approval. Security personnel continue to be deployed across Leh.
The prohibitory orders were imposed after protestors targeted the BJP office in Leh, escalating tensions.
On Thursday, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta chaired a high-level security review meeting with Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, DGP SD Singh Jamwal, and senior officers of the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Lt Governor emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, better inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace and public order across the Union Territory.
The violence has also triggered a political row, with BJP leader Amit Malviya alleging that Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag had “instigated” protestors who attacked the BJP office in Leh on Wednesday.
Wangchuk rejected claims of Congress involvement in the unrest. Speaking to ANI, he said, “What is the name of the person who entered the BJP office? First of all, a few weeks ago, the Congress party was removed from our Apex Body so that it can remain apolitical. So you can understand that this movement has nothing to do with Congress. They were told to move away from the movement until the elections are over. Otherwise, they also have a place in it.”
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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