Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday, November 12, claimed that authorities had placed him under house arrest in Leh after he and other regional leaders opposed the December schedule for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections.
In a post on X, Wangchuk said dozens of armed personnel had been deployed around his residence. He disputed the administration’s version that he had only been advised to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.
“I AM UNDER HOUSE ARREST. Dozens of armed guards surround my house while the government version says ‘I have been advised to stay at home’. All for asking uncomfortable questions like… why is the Judicial Enquiry Commission Report (of last year’s killings in Leh) delayed and a phoney Council election is foisted on people with rocket speed in mid-winter,” he wrote.
Wangchuk also claimed that protests were taking place across Ladakh and alleged that the reach of his accounts on X, Instagram and YouTube had been significantly reduced.
In a video message, he said he and his associates had been demanding the release of the inquiry report into last year’s firing in Leh. He alleged that the administration was attempting to divert attention from the issue by moving ahead with the council elections.
Wangchuk said that he and other representatives had been planning a protest sit-in when people identifying themselves as police personnel arrived at his institute on Wednesday evening.
“Yesterday evening we were planning a dharna against this when some people calling themselves policemen came and told us we should not move out. They were wearing masks and hoodies, and they looked more like hooligans than policemen,” he alleged.
He said he had told the personnel that he was prepared to be arrested. They then escorted him to his institute, where his residence is also located, and instructed him not to leave the premises.
Wangchuk alleged that dozens of police personnel had been deployed around the institute to enforce the restrictions. He said peaceful sit-ins had already taken place and that protests would continue until their demands were addressed.
Opposition to December elections
The administration has notified elections for the eight LAHDCs, with polling scheduled for December 4.
Wangchuk and other local representatives have opposed holding the elections during winter, arguing that severe cold forces many residents, including students, to temporarily leave Ladakh.
They have also questioned the delay in releasing the Judicial Enquiry Commission report into last year’s violence and firing in Leh. Wangchuk has alleged that the administration is pushing ahead with the election process while the report remains pending.
