Sonam Wangchuk being detained by police (X/SonamWangchuk)
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and over 120 supporters from Ladakh were detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on their march to the national capital, seeking Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, according to police sources.
The group, including Wangchuk, had journeyed to Delhi to push for constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, which would provide special protections for the region's cultural and environmental interests. However, as they reached the Singhu border, they were stopped by police due to prohibitory orders in the city.
Delhi Police, citing the enforcement of Section 144 in several areas of the city, requested the group to turn back. When they refused to comply, around 120 people, including Wangchuk, were taken into custody. They were transported to Alipur and other nearby police stations at the Delhi-Haryana border, the police stated.
"They had planned to spend the night at the border despite restrictions," a senior police officer confirmed. "After repeated requests to return were ignored, we detained them." The officer further added that the detentions were temporary, and the activists would be released after some time.
It was also noted that women participating in the march were not detained, and the police action was in line with maintaining public order.
Shortly before his detention, Wangchuk took to X, posting videos from the scene at the border. He expressed concern over the heavy police presence, initially thinking the group was being escorted but soon realizing they were being detained.
I AM BEING DETAINED...
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) September 30, 2024
along with 150 padyatris
at Delhi Border, by a police force of 100s some say 1,000.
Many elderly men & women in their 80s and few dozen Army veterans...
Our fate is unknown.
We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi... in the largest democracy… pic.twitter.com/iPZOJE5uuM
"As we are approaching Delhi, it appears we are not being escorted, we are being detained," Wangchuk said in his post, sharing footage of the halted buses and interactions with police officials.
In response to the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and hundreds of Ladakhis, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the action, calling it "unacceptable." He expressed concern over the peaceful marchers being held for advocating for Ladakh’s environmental and constitutional rights.
Gandhi questioned why elderly citizens were being detained at Delhi’s border for merely standing up for Ladakh’s future. Drawing a parallel to the farmers' protests, he used the term "Chakravyuh," a complex entrapment from Indian mythology, to symbolize the obstacles the government is creating.
The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 30, 2024
Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?
Modi ji, like with the farmers, this…
He warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that, like the farmers' movement, this resistance too would eventually break through the government's defenses. Gandhi accused Modi of arrogance, stating that the voice of Ladakh would not be ignored and that the government would ultimately have to heed their demands.
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