Sonam Wangchuk Claims House Arrest in Ladakhਸੋਨਮ ਵਾਂਗਚੁਕ ਦਾ ਲੱਦਾਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਜ਼ਰਬੰਦੀ ਦਾ ਦਾਅਵਾ

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Wednesday that he had been placed under house arrest at his home in Leh, hours before a planned protest against holding the Leh hill council elections in winter. In a video message shared on X, Wangchuk said about 10 people, including police and paramilitary personnel, were standing outside his house and did not know how long it would last.

Protest against winter polls

The protest was planned for noon on Wednesday at Leh's polo ground. Wangchuk and members of the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance were to lead the demonstration against holding the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections in winter. The elections are scheduled for December 4 and were announced on November 6. Wangchuk said holding the vote in winter was unacceptable because a large section of Ladakh's population leaves the region for warmer places in the cold months and would not be able to return to vote. He said people should be able to vote for their representatives. He also called the decision an insult to Ladakh, a Buddhist region, saying the government was holding elections in the snow instead of summer.

Police cite prohibitory orders

Ladakh Police defended the preventive action, saying it was in compliance with prohibitory orders issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of the Union Territory and the District Magistrate of Leh. The orders regulate public rallies, protests and other gatherings within Leh Municipality while the election exercise is under way. Ladakh Director General of Police Anand Jain confirmed on X that Wangchuk had been advised to stay at his residence in view of the prohibitory orders. The statement did not address his description of it as house arrest.

Restrictions extended, Wangchuk repeats claim

The Times of India reported that the Leh administration has imposed 60-day preventive restrictions on Wangchuk under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, citing public order concerns and the ongoing election process. On Thursday, Wangchuk again said he was under house arrest, posting on X that dozens of armed guards surrounded his house while the government version said he had merely been advised to stay at home. He said he would take the matter to the magistrate, the high court and the Supreme Court.

Statehood agitation behind the protest

The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance are spearheading an agitation demanding statehood for Ladakh and the extension of Sixth Schedule protections to the region. The two bodies have announced a boycott of the hill council polls. The elections are being held after a gap of five years and come amid unrest in Ladakh. On September 24, four people were killed and dozens injured during a protest over statehood and Sixth Schedule demands. Wangchuk has also demanded the release of the inquiry commission report into those killings. The Leh hill council has 30 seats, 26 to be filled by election and four by nomination.

Wangchuk urges peaceful protest

In his video message, Wangchuk urged people to join the protest in large numbers and to maintain peace and discipline. He said people must not indulge in any kind of violence and that the government wanted to show the people of Ladakh as violent, but they would show they were peaceful. He said the two bodies would hold a peaceful and democratic protest at the polo ground and that he would join them if he could go out.

What did Sonam Wangchuk say about his house arrest?

Wangchuk said he had been under house arrest since Wednesday morning, with about 10 police and paramilitary personnel outside his Leh home.

Why is the protest being held?

The protest is against holding the Leh hill council elections in winter. Wangchuk says many Ladakhis leave the region in winter and would not be able to return to vote.

What is the official response?

Ladakh Police said the preventive action complied with prohibitory orders from the Chief Electoral Officer and the District Magistrate regulating public gatherings in Leh during the election exercise.

When are the Leh hill council elections?

The elections are scheduled for December 4, after a gap of five years. The council has 30 seats, 26 elected and four nominated.