New Delhi- Around 120 people from Ladakh including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had marched to the national capital demanding sixth schedule status for the Union Territory, have been detained by the Delhi Police at the city’s border, police sources said.
According to Delhi Police sources, the detained people, including Wangchuk, have taken to Alipur and other police stations along the city border.
Wangchuk and others wanted to spend the night at the border. They were initially requested to go back as prohibitory orders were imposed in Delhi but when they did not stop, the policemen who were already deployed at the border, detained about 120 men, including Wangchuk, police officer said.
Women participating in the march were not detained, the source said, adding that the detentions were done in view of prohibitory orders banning gatherings of five or more persons in north and central Delhi.
Wangchuk, in a post on Instagram shortly before being detained, shared visuals from the Delhi border, where amid huge police presence their buses were stopped.
The climate activist could be seen interacting with police officials in the video.
In his post, Wangchuk said several vehicles of Delhi Police and Haryana Police were accompanying their buses and while they initially thought they were being escorted, as they approached the national capital, it was clear they were going to be detained.
“As we are approaching Delhi, it appears we are not being escorted, we are being detained,” Wangchuk said.
He said around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed at the Delhi border and they have been informed that heavy deployment of security forces has been done at the Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi, and in areas where students from Ladakh reside.
“It appears they don’t want to allow this padyatra to take place,” he said.
The ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’ was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), are jointly spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of statehood, extension of the Constitution’s sixth schedule, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Delhi Police on Monday banned the gathering of five or more persons, people carrying banners, placards arms and or protests in the central part and bordering areas for the next six days in the national capital, citing law and order issues, including calls of protests given by several organisations.
According to an order issued from the Delhi Police Headquarters, Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has directed to impose the section 163 (which was earlier section 144 of CrPC) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the districts of New Delhi, North and Central and all police stations jurisdiction sharing the borders with other states.
The prohibitory order will remain effective till October 5.
Opposition Rallies Support
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed as “unacceptable” the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other Ladakhis, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have to listen to Ladakh’s voice.
Around 120 people from Ladakh, including Wangchuk — who had marched to the national capital demanding Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory — have been detained by the Delhi Police at the national capital’s border.
“The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable,” Gandhi said in a post on X.
The former Congress chief also asked why elderly citizens were being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future.
“Modi ji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice,” Gandhi said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday hit out at the Centre over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several other Ladakhis, saying even the fundamental right to protest has been “snatched” from the people.
Wangchuk and around 120 others on a march to Delhi demanding Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh were detained at the Singhu border on Monday night.
“Even the very fundamental right to protest has been snatched from us for raising our voice against the onslaught on our identity & resources. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ladakh,” Mehbooba said in a post on X.
CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami Tuesday also condemned the detention saying it reflects the government’s “utter disregard” for democratic freedom.
“Condemning, in no uncertain terms, the detention of prominent climate activist Sonam Wangchuk along with his supporters at Singhu border. Scuttling the peaceful Delhi Chalo Padyatra of Wangchuk reflects the government’s utter disregard for democratic freedom,” Mufti said in a post on X.
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