NEW DELHI: Hours after the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh’s capital Leh on Friday, his whereabouts are still unknown.According to officials, after Wangchuk was taken into custody by a police party led by Ladakh Police chief S D Singh Jamwal, he was shifted out of Ladakh.Meanwhile, sources within the Ladakh administration news agency PTI that Wangchuk has been slapped with the National Security Act. However, there is not confirmation yet.This comes two days after the Union Territory witnessed its worst violence in decades, as a protest over statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards spiralled into clashes.What we know so far:‘House ransacked, Wangchuk being treated like a criminal’Hours after Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest, his wife Gitanjali Angmo accused the administration of treating her husband “like a criminal without any reason.”Angmo said that the government is spreading “false narratives” to tarnish Wangchuk’s image.”He was treated like a criminal without any reason,” Angmo told news agency PTI.”It is the worst form of democracy… without any trial, without any reason, they have just taken him like a criminal,” she added.She also said that their house was “ransacked by the police” and alleged that Wangchuk was being unjustly portrayed as “anti-national”. “The government should not stoop to this level to tarnish somebody’s image who has been peacefully protesting for the past five years, who has contributed to national glory more than anybody else, be it through Rolex Awards or, you know, the work that he has been doing in agriculture and environment, to UNDP and everywhere,” she said.”If this is how intellectuals and innovators are treated, then God save this country from becoming anything but a Vishwaguru,” she said.‘Centre was after him’: Omar AbdullahJammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah termed the reports of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest an “unfortunate” step; however, he also said that the move wasn’t unexpected as the Central government was “after him since yesterday.”Speaking to reporters, Abdullah criticised the Central government for failing to fulfil the promises they had made to the people of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.”He was arrested? It is unfortunate. Given the way the central government has been after them since yesterday, it seemed like something like this might happen. They were promised, just like we were. Now I don’t understand what compels the central government to renege on promises it makes…” Omar said.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also reacted to reports of police arresting Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, two days after violence broke out during protests in Leh.Expressing concerns, Kejriwal criticised the Central government’s handling of the situation, calling its actions “oppressive and dictatorial.””Ravana’s end also came. Kansa’s end also came. Hitler’s and Mussolini’s end also came.”And today, people hate all those individuals. Today in our country, dictatorship is at its peak. The end of those who practice dictatorship and arrogance is very bad,” Kejriwal wrote in Hindi in a post on X.The Apex Body Leh denies charges against WangchukThe Apex Body Leh, which is leading the agitation for statehood for Ladakh, stated that their protest is peaceful and that the violence on September 24 was triggered when a section of the youth got out of control.Addressing a press conference here, the Apex Body denied activist Sonam Wangchuk’s role in the violence in Leh during his ongoing hunger strike.In the statement, a member of the Apex Body Leh said, “Our movement will be peaceful and nonviolent to disseminate this, we started prayers of all the religions. When Sonam Wangchuk started the Hunger Strike, a few people were there. We used to call people from villages. We called for a Leh Bandh on September 24.””Before that, on September 23, two people who were in the protest were admitted to the hospital. Getting to know this a huge mob of youth came to the hospital. On the day of the bandh, more people than we expected poured in at the site of the strike. A large part of the people were youth that day,” he said.Curfew continues, internet suspendedThe curfew continued for the third day on Friday in Leh town, and the District Magistrate of Kargil also imposed restrictions to maintain law and order.The administration also snapped mobile internet services in the Leh area as a precautionary measure.MHA team meets representatives of LABMeanwhile, a team of ministry of home Affairs (MHA) officials met with representatives of the Leh Apex body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).The MHA cancelled the FCRA registration certificate of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, as the ministry directly blamed him for instigating youth to violence in Leh town.Acting tough on anti-social elements and miscreants, Ladakh police have lodged multiple FIRs and detained over 50 rioters as the police decided action against those who instigated the violence in Leh town, resulting in four casualties, 90 injuries and damage to many buildings and vehicles, including BJP and Hill Council offices.A team of MHA officials held a meeting with the representatives of LAB and KDA in Leh on Thursday. Officials later said it was 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. Go to Source
