Protests in Kargil over Wangchuk’s detention

Protests were held in Kargil, while Leh observed complete bandh today in support of Sonam Wangchuk, who was detained by the Delhi Police.

Wangchuk, who was released on Wednesday evening, was detained late on Monday evening while he, along with his supporters, was going to New Delhi as part of his ‘padyatra’ to press for the demand of Sixth Schedule and statehood for Ladakh.

Ladakh even remained shut on Tuesday demanding the release of Wangchuk and other activists detained along with him.

Holding tricolor and placards, thousands of members of the Muslim community in Kargil took out a march demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Business and other establishments remained completely shut in the Buddhist-dominated Leh where locals demanded immediate release of Wangchuk and consideration of their demands.

During the protests, locals said they had been demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule for the past over three years, but there had been no proper response from the Central Government.

The Congress also opened an attack on the local unit of the BJP claiming that the latter was not concerned about the issues of the people of Ladakh.

Congress leader Smanla Dorje Nurboo, Leh councillor from the Saspol constituency, said activists fighting for their demands were detained illegally.

“The Congress is with the people of Ladakh. Even our representatives are with the activists in Delhi,” Nurboo said.

He said it was unfortunate that the BJP did not become a part of this campaign. “They (BJP) did not support the campaign by the activists, who were detained in Delhi. No BJP leader stood with them,” he said.

In March this year, talks between the Central Government and local leaders of Ladakh over statehood hit a deadlock.

The Central Government recently created five new districts - Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang - in Ladakh.