LEH: Climate activist Soman Wangchuk and 170 Ladakhis under police detention for the past two days for violating prohibitory orders have been taken to Rajghat, an officer said on Wednesday.
Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters were again detained after they were released by the Delhi Police late Tuesday night, even as their indefinite fast continue at the police stations.
Wangchuk and other detained Ladakhis were allowed to go on Tuesday night but they were adamant to march towards the central part of Delhi, therefore, they were detained again, a senior police officer told.
Wangchuk has been kept at the Bawana police station along with few others while others have been kept at Narela Industrial Area, Alipur and Kanjhawala police stations, he added.
Wangchuk, who was leading ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’, had gone on an indefinite fast after he was detained by the Delhi Police on Monday.
The ‘Padyatra’ was organised by the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading an agitation for the last four years for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Wangchuk had begun his journey with 170 Ladakhis from Leh a month ago. The marchers were detained at several police stations in the outskirts of Delhi on Monday night. They were detained at the city’s Singhu Border while they on their way to Rajghat.
Wangchuk and other protestors from Ladakh continued their indefinite fast, saying they find their rights “trampled upon” on Gandhi Jayanti, a day that symbolizes peace and democracy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Jigmat Paljor, Coordinator Apex Body, said their detention, which is continuing for over 24 hours, is illegal.
“We, the ‘padyatris’, find ourselves in an alarming situation. We have been detained for over 24 hours. This detention is illegal, as the 24-hour period has elapsed, and we must be produced before a magistrate,” Paljor said.
“Some groups have been released after just under 24 hours, only to be returned to the police station. Last night, the police attempted to forcibly relocate us to an unknown location, but we stood our ground in resistance,” he added.
“Our phones have been confiscated at the Bawana Police Station, leaving us cut off from the outside world,” Paljor said in the statement.
Delhi Police, however, said that the ‘padyatris’ were released last night and detained again.
Wangchuk and other detained Ladakhis were allowed to go on Tuesday night but they were adamant to march towards the central part of Delhi, therefore, they were detained again, a senior police officer said.
The ‘padyatris’, who started from Leh on September 1, marched all the way, except upon entering poll bound Haryana where they boarded buses. They were detained at Delhi’s Singhu border on Monday night and taken to different police stations, where they started an indefinite fast.
“Also all the ‘padyatris’ are on ‘anshan’ since 36 hours. Today, October 2nd, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we had intended to visit Gandhi Samadhi to pay our respects. Instead, we find our rights trampled upon on a day that symbolizes peace and democracy,” Paljor said.
“This situation raises serious concerns about the state of our democracy. We call upon everyone to stand in solidarity with us during this critical time,” he added.
The march was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading an agitation for the past four years to demand statehood for Ladakh, seek its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Wangchuk has been kept at the Bawana police station along with few others while others have been kept at Narela Industrial Area, Alipur and Kanjhawala police stations, he added.
Earlier in the day, one of the detainees Political Activist Sajjad Kargili said that it is unfortunate and deplorable that the government of India is treating the people of Ladakh as if they are criminals, and they were informed by the Delhi Police that all arrested will be released Arya Samaj Narela within hours.
“We will continue to demand statehood, Sixth Schedule protection, and proper representation in parliament for Kargil and Leh regions. We will also stand firmly with our unemployed youth, demanding immediate recruitment for gazetted posts and the establishment of a Ladakh Public Service Commission,” Kargili said.
He in another message on X said, 2nd Day Hunger Strike Under Detention; It has now been over 35 hours since they were detained at the Delhi border by the Delhi Police. Ladakhi Padyatris, along with leaders of the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, were moved to different locations on the night of September 30 and remain in detention, he said and added that MP, the Chairman of Hill Council, as well as Executive Councillors and Councillors, were also detained yesterday morning. Today is our second day and we are on hunger strike against our unconstitutional, un-warranted detention.
“I ask the government—are we, the people of Ladakh, considered traitors or enemies of this country? The government must recognize that the people of Ladakh believe in resolving issues through dialogue. We came here with the intent to engage in negotiations and to present our legitimate demands for statehood, Sixth Schedule protection, employment opportunities, a public service commission, and fair representation in Parliament for both the Leh and Kargil regions,” he said.
Presently the approach of the government risks deepening the trust deficit and furthering the sense of alienation that has grown over the past five years.
