Sonam Wangchuk was detained on Friday by a police party led by the Director General of Police, Ladakh. He has been blamed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for making provocative statements that led to violence on Wednesday, which claimed four lives and injured over 80 others.
The climate activist was picked up by a police party from his village, Ulyaktopo, ahead of an anticipated media briefing in Leh. Wangchuk has been detained under the draconian National Security Act (NSA), which provides for keeping an accused behind bars for a year without any legal recourse.
Wangchuk has denied all the allegations made by the Centre and the Union Territory’s administration.
Following his arrest internet services were suspended in Leh. On Thursday, the MHA cancelled registration of Wangchuk’s non-profit ‘Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh’ (SECMOL) from receiving funds under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
Gitanjali Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife, said, “her husband was treated like a criminal without any reason.” She further accused the Government of spreading “false narratives” to tarnish his image.
“It is the worst form of democracy… without any trial, without any reason, they have just taken him like a criminal… 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… If this is how intellectuals and innovators are treated, then God save this country from becoming anything but a Vishwaguru,” she said.
Wangchuk held, internet cut Angmo also slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying “please tell them not to call themselves Hindu… because the basis of Hinduism is all truth”.
In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the arrest unfortunate and criticised the Union Government. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said arresting Wangchuk was wrong. “He never encouraged violence. The BJP government is hiding its failure after it could not handle the issues of Ladakh,” he said.
Haji Ghulam Mustafa, legal advisor to the Leh Apex Body (LAB) said Wanghchuk’s arrest is going to complicate the situation rather than bring normalcy. He said the arrest has the potential to create hurdles in the ongoing talks between the representatives from the Union Territory and the Union Government.
Interacting with the media in Srinagar, CM Abdullah said, “Promises were made to make people contest and participate in the elections. Not only did the people then participate in the elections in huge numbers, but they made BJP win. But the promises were not kept, same as with us.”
