Opposition flays the detention, Terms unfortunate, Unwarranted
Leh, Sep 26 : The social activist Sonam Wangchuk was put under preventive detention on Friday and slapped with the National Security Act (NSA), two days after violent protests, over statehood and constitutional protection under sixth schedule, left four persons dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory of Ladakh, officials said.
Police have shifted Wangchuk out of Ladakh, while the Ladakh administration has snapped all mobile internet connections within the jurisdiction of Leh district as a precautionary measure, they said.
In a day of fast-paced developments, the detention of Wangchuk was sudden. He was scheduled to address a press conference in Leh at 2:30 pm but when he failed to arrive, the people at the venue became concerned.
They soon found the reason — the social activist had been detained from his village Ulyaktopo by a team of Ladakh Police, led by Director General S D Singh Jamwal. Wangchuk was immediately shifted out of Ladakh.
The organisers went ahead with the scheduled press conference in which they admitted that the recent violence was caused by youth who went “out of control”, but dismissed the involvement of any foreign hand behind it.
Leh Apex Body co-chairman Chering Dorjay rejected the involvement of “foreign hand” in the violence and demanded a judicial probe into Wednesday’s incident that claimed four lives.
He alleged that police and CRPF personnel fired indiscriminately on the protesters without making any attempt to control the unruly mob using other means, such as use of water cannons or firing warning shots.
“We have made it clear that if the home ministry does not call us on time for talks, we will intensify our agitation. We also said that our movement will be peaceful and non-violent.
“A scheduled 14-day long hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk started with a joint prayer meeting on September 10, and accordingly, the Centre extended an invitation for October 6,” Dorjay told reporters.
Meanwhile, an uneasy calm continued to prevail in Leh as curfew remained in force for the third consecutive day in Leh with no untoward incident being reported from anywhere in the UT.
The curfew was clamped on Wednesday evening after widespread violence resulted in the deaths of protesters demanding for advancing talks that was otherwise scheduled for Oct 06, with the Centre on their demand for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule of Constitution to Ladakh.
Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk has ordered closure of all government and private schools, colleges, and other educational institutions for two days from Friday. Besides, anganwadi centres will also remain closed, the DM had said.
“The overall security situation remained peaceful across Ladakh. The restrictions are likely to be relaxed later in the day to allow people to buy essential commodities,” a police officer said.
More than 50 persons were detained following the clashes, while strict restrictions under prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons also remained in force in other major towns of the UT, including Kargil.
A high-level team from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has arrived in Leh to review the situation.
Wangchuk’s detention came a day after the MHA revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence issued to his NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing alleged financial irregularities.
The preventive detention of Wangchuk, a key figure in the five-year-long agitation for Ladakh’s rights, has drawn strong reactions from the opposition leaders, who blamed the Central government’s handling of the situation.
In a fiery reaction to the arrest, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, accused the government of spreading a “false narrative” aimed at tarnishing his image.
“He was treated like a criminal without any reason,” Angmo said, alleging that their house was ransacked by police.
She also criticised the government for “stooping to this level” to damage the reputation of a respected innovator.
“Let them not spread false narratives as they are doing,” she said, referring to the BJP, as she questioned the party’s principles, stating, “They are not Hindus in any way. The BJP is not Hindu because its foundation is falsehood.”
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the arrest “unfortunate,” accusing the BJP-led Centre of backtracking on the promises made to secure public participation in the 2020 Hill Council elections.
To a question over Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K assembly Sunil Sharma’s allegation that Abdullah was justifying violence in Ladakh, the CM said the BJP MLA always pins the blame on others.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said, “The Indian National Congress condemns the arrest of noted environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act.”
This has been done to divert attention and responsibility from the BJP’s “abysmal failure” to maintain law and order and ensure security of life and property in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ramesh claimed.
Trinamool Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose, said, “Whether in sensitive places like Kashmir or Manipur or Ladakh, the Modi government has no policy, no reach out, no reconciliation, no trust building.”
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas termed the happenings in Ladakh “brutality unleashed” and warned that “such repressive actions will only aggravate the situation and further fuel unrest”.
Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa demanded a judicial inquiry into the police firing on Wednesday, describing the violence as an “outburst” of frustration of the region’s unemployed youth.
While condemning the arson by the protesters, he questioned police for resorting to “targeted firing” instead of using non-lethal methods.
He also dismissed any external conspiracy, saying Wangchuk “can never do such a thing” to instigate violence.
Legal advisor to the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Haji Ghulam Mustafa, called Wangchuk’s detention an “unwise decision” that could “complicate the situation”.
Senior Congress leader and legislator Ghulam Ahmad Mir termed the arrest unwarranted, saying Wanchuk followed the Gandhian path in pursuing their demands in Ladakh. He said that Ladakhis, particularly in Leh, are peace-loving people and never supported violence.
Pertinent to mention that under the National Security Act (NSA), actions taken are best described as a form of preventive detention, not an arrest for a specific crime. The NSA empowers the government to detain individuals if it believes their actions could threaten national security, public order, or essential services, even before a formal charge or trial or bail.
MHA Team reviews security in Leh, holds discussion with LAB, KDA
Leh, Sept 26: A high-level team of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs reached Leh on Thursday to review the security situation.
They had held a series of meetings with the Lt Governor and civil and police officers besides the representatives of the LAB. The MHA team f reviewed the security situation in Leh, where curfew remained in force for the third consecutive day on Friday following violent clashes that left four people dead and 90 others injured earlier this week.
The MHA team held meetings with the Lt Governor, senior civil and police officials, and LAB representatives. It was decided that a preparatory meeting between the MHA, LAB, and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) will take place in New Delhi on September 27 or 28, ahead of an official round of talks on October 6 with a high-powered committee.
“The meeting decided that a preparatory meeting with the Home Ministry will take place in New Delhi on September 27 or 28, subject to confirmation of date by the MHA. The meeting will be attended by three representatives each from the LAB and KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance) besides Ladakh MP (Mohd Hanifa Jan).
“The preparatory meeting shall be followed by an immediate official meeting of the Home Ministry with a High Powered Committee comprising seven members each from LAB and KDA on four-point agenda,” a joint statement issued by LAB chairman Thupstan Chhewang and co-chairman Chering Dorjay said.
LAB and the KDA have been jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of their demands – statehood, extension of sixth schedule of the constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil and Public Service Commission.
They have held several rounds of talks with the government in the past, reaching an agreement on job guarantees and the additional Lok Sabha seat which will be decided by the delimitation commission, leaving the focus on the demand for statehood and sixth schedule. The next round of talks with the Centre is scheduled for October 6.
Officials said no fresh incidents were reported, and restrictions may be eased later in the day to allow people to purchase essential supplies.
Police and paramilitary personnel continued to patrol the deserted streets of Leh and other towns, including Kargil, where prohibitory orders remained in force. Residents complained of shortages of ration, milk, and vegetables.
Meanwhile, shops and business establishments opened in Kargil this morning after a day-long closure in response to a call given by KDA. However, policemen have been deployed in strength and were seen patrolling the sensitive areas of the town.
