Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk Released By Delhi Police, Joins Tribute to Gandhi
NEW DELHI, Oct 2: Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk has been released from Bawana Police Station by the Delhi Police on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, marking a significant moment for both him and his supporters. Following his release, a Delhi Police team escorted him to Rajghat, where he is expected to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in observance of Gandhi Jayanti.
Wangchuk, along with approximately 120 fellow activists from Ladakh, was detained on the night of September 30, 2024, at the Delhi-Haryana border while they were marching from Leh to Delhi to advocate for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. This march commenced on September 1 and was intended to culminate at Rajghat on October 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
Earlier in the week, Ladakh’s Member of Parliament, Mohmad Haneefa, was also released by the Delhi Police. Haneefa confirmed his release after being detained on October 1, a day after Wangchuk and many other protesters were apprehended.
In response to the detentions, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Apex Body, Leh, called for a bandh across Ladakh on October 1, demanding Wangchuk’s release. The bandh saw shops closing in solidarity, as residents rallied for Wangchuk’s freedom and advocated for the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to safeguard the region’s rights and autonomy.
Wangchuk and his supporters undertook the foot march to compel the Centre to engage in meaningful dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership regarding their long-standing demands. Among their primary requests is for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which would grant the local population law-making powers, thereby protecting their land and cultural identity.
This march, organized by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in collaboration with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), is a continuation of the agitation that has been ongoing for the past four years. The protestors aim to bring attention to the unique challenges faced by Ladakh following its transition to a Union Territory in 2019 and seek to ensure that the voices of the local populace are heard in the governance of the region.
