Sonam Wangchuk arrest LIVE Updates: ‘Sonam Wangchuk visited Pakistan, was in touch with Pak PIO’, says Ladakh DGP

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta was briefed about the security situation and emerging developments in the region on Saturday evening.

The meeting included Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command and Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Fire & Fury Corps.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress on Saturday sparred over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act, with AAP questioning the silence of Rahul Gandhi on the issue and the grand old party hitting back.

Taking to social media, both parties accused each other of siding with the BJP.

While AAP alleged that Rahul Gandhi was “an agent” of the BJP and posted a picture of him hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress hit back by alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit was set up by the BJP and RSS from behind the scenes.

The picture posted by AAP showed Rahul Gandhi hugging Prime Minister Modi on the floor of Lok Sabha in July 2018, when he walked up to the other side after finishing his speech.

On the arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, J&K LoP Sunil Sharma says, “… No one should take the law into their hands… The rule of law should be strictly imposed. Sonam Wangchuk or any other person is not above the law…”

“The BJP has not blamed anyone… A picture is viral in which a ward councillor from Upper Leh and Congress leader is seen instigating the violence. He also has a weapon in his hand. He also has a picture with Rahul Gandhi. All we ask is a clarification from Congress, as all the wires are connected to Congress…” he said.

Office of the Lt. Governor, Ladakh shared a post on X and said, “Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C Northern Command, accompanied by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, GOC Fire & Fury Corps, called on LG Shri

Kavinder Gupta at Raj Niwas and briefed him on the security situation and emerging developments in the region.”

Ladakh DGP Dr. SD Singh Jamwal said a major investigation is underway to track foreign funding allegedly received by Sonam Wangchuk. “Everyone in the media is aware of his Dawn events and his activities in Pakistan. Specifically, I mentioned another instance related to Pakistan, where we tracked videos being sent and other associated links. Foreign funding is involved, and a major investigation is currently underway,” he said.

People line up at shops as restrictions lifted in parts of Leh for three hours.

Curfew remained in force for the fourth day in violence-hit Leh town of Ladakh on Saturday as police and paramilitary forces intensified patrolling.

Ladakh DGP Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal says, “We have arrested 44 people so far…The main ring leaders have been nabbed. Sonam Wangchuk, the main player, has been sent out under NSA charges.”

“Sonam Wangchuk has instigated people, he has his own agenda; we have records of his visit to Pakistan, a big question mark looms over him,” Ladakh DGP’s shocking claim.

Ladakh DGP Dr. S.D Singh Jamwal said that they have also arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was in touch with Sonam Wangchuk and reporting back across.

“We have a record of this. He had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan. He also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him…Investigation is being done…” the DGP added.

Addressing the media on recent violence in Leh, Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal addresses said, “Had the CRPF not been present here that day, the entire Leh town could have been engulfed in fire. I say this with full confidence. Deploying forces involves a very large and complex process.”

“The protest happened because of the anti-social elements who attacked the Police deployment and it was a massive attack – a lot of arson, stone pelting. Many people got injured…” he added.

The Ladakh DGP said that a strong group of 5000-6000 people marched and damaged government buildings and party offices in Leh on Wednesday. “They pelted stones and attacked forces…CRPF jawans were brutally beaten up, one jawan is still in hospital with a serious spinal injury…4 women Police personnel were in the same building when it was set on fire…An even bigger mob came here and attacked this building…” he said.

“Firing was done in self-defence and 4 lives were lost. 32 people were severely injured on the first day and after that several more were injured. I too was attacked but I luckily survived with minor injuries…Of the severely injured personnel, 17 were from CRPF and 15 from Ladakh Police…Later, the number rose to 70-80. 70-80 civilians were also injured. Of them, 7 were critically injured; one girl was airlifted to Delhi for advanced medical help. 6-7 are still in Ladakh hospital…” the DGP added.

Referring to Sonam Wangchuk, the DGP said, “A so-called environmental activist and other such groups with a question mark on their credibility attempted to hijack this platform. The first name here is Sonam Wangchuk.”

“He had said and done things earlier as well to derail this process…The hunger protest was made a platform where elements were invited to vitiate peace & law and order here…Preliminary talks were already planned on 25-26 Sept in Delhi. Surprisingly, on 24th Sept a large group gathered and it was joined by a large number of anti-social elements,” the DGP added.

Ladakh DGP Dr. S.D Singh Jamwal addresses press day after cliamte activist Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest.

“A very unfortunate incident occurred here on 24th September. In the history of Ladakh this had never happened before. A law and order situation occurred, and there was massive violence, vandalism and arson. 4 lives were lost and a large number of civilians, Police as well as paramilitary forces’ jawans were injured…” he said.

On the arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, Congress leader Shama Mohamed says, “The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk is unfair and undemocratic… They (the central government) promised them (the people of Ladakh) in the last panchayat elections about the 6th Schedule.”

“Now they cannot keep it, and they want to convince the people that they are good, that they arrested the person who was initially with them when Ladakh was made into a UT… The Indian government claims the protests are preplanned… Why didn’t the intelligence pick up despite the fact that Ladakh is a high-intelligence zone? What is that man called Ajit Doval doing? It is time he should resign, and Sonam Wangchuk should be released at the earliest. We fully condemn his arrest,” she said.

On the arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari says, “The only solution is to fulfil the promises made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, that is to give statehood to Ladakh as well as J&K. Arresting someone is not the solution. You have been unable to handle Manipur for the last two years… Ladakh is the most sensitive area. It shares its border with China… Suppression won’t help in Ladakh, only talks will…”

Leh locals share ordeal days after protests hit peace in the region.

Dolma, a local, urged the administration to lift restrictions for at least an hour a day so that people can procure essential items, such as food and milk.

“This area is Polo Ground. I am buying milk after five days. We haven’t been able to buy anything after the 24th. Adults can eat food, but it’s difficult for babies who depend solely on milk. Gradually, everything should come back to normal, but we don’t know,” the elderly woman said, quoted PTI.

“We don’t have vegetables and milk at home. It is especially very difficult for daily wage labourers and tourists. We are helpless ourselves. They should lift restrictions for at least an hour. Otherwise, what will people do? What will they eat?” she added.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday by Ladakh police under the National Security Act (NSA) and has been shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail. Speaking to The Indian Express, his wife Gitanjali Angmo, provided details of the arrest and the pressures Wangchuk has faced in recent times.

“I was at our institute at that time when I received a call from an inspector that he was being taken to Jodhpur jail on a flight and that he would speak to me once he landed there. I am still waiting,” she told IE.

Curfew continues for the fourth day in violence-hit Leh town of Ladakh on Saturday as police and paramilitary forces intensified patrolling. The security has been heightened following the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday, officials said.

In a statement issued late Friday night, the Lt Governor-led administration justified the detention of Wangchuk and said his series of alleged provocative speeches, with references to the Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring, resulted in Wednesday’s violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured.

The statement said the arrest was “important to restore normalcy” in the peace-loving Leh town and also to prevent him from further acting in a manner “prejudicial to maintenance of public order”. “There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere in Ladakh during the past 24 hours. The restrictions are in place to maintain law and order,” an official said.

On the arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, “Investigation will be carried out to find those who are behind the atmosphere of instability that was tried to be created in Ladakh.”

“The foreign funding licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO has been cancelled. The violence that you saw in Ladakh was extensively investigated by the central government to track the funding for it… Is there a hand of foreign powers or our own opposition, this needs to be known…” she added.

The security in Ladakh has been tightened after activist Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest on Friday.

The climate activist was arrested two days after protests demanding Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory. Wangchuk was taken into custody by a police party led by Ladakh Police chief S D Singh Jamwal. He was subsequently lodged in a jail in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

“Police have shifted Wangchuk out of Ladakh, while the Ladakh administration has snapped all mobile internet connections within the jurisdiction of Leh district as a precautionary measure,” a PTI report quoted officials as saying.

Protesting against Wangchuk’s arrest, Aam Aadmi Party organised a candle march at Jantar Mantar tonight. “The central government has arrested Sonam Wangchuk in a false case,” it said.

The government has reportedly snapped internet services in the UT following Wangchuk’s arrest. The move is said to prevent the spread of misinformation.

According to multiple news reports citing sources, Sonam Wangchuk is likely to be shifted out of Ladakh either tonight or tomorrow morning. Congress’ Jairam Ramesh in a social media post claimed that Wangchuk has been arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Congress on Wangchuk getting detained: “The Indian National Congress condemns the arrest of noted environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act. This has been done to divert attention and responsibility from the BJP’s abysmal failure to maintain law and order and ensure security of life and property in the Union Territory of Ladakh.”

The statement was posted by senior leader Jairam Ramesh. “The crux of the issue is that the BJP has deceived the people of Ladakh for years. It promised the region Sixth Schedule status in the 2020 Leh Hill Council Elections and has gone back on that promise with a vengeance. It claimed that it gave Ladakh autonomy from the larger Jammu and Kashmir but has really ended all semblance of democracy in the Union Territory. The Modi Government cannot brush these issues away or suppress them by arresting Mr. Wangchuk. It needs to engage with the people of Ladakh in sincerity and with alacrity,” the post read.

Congress called the arrest of Wangchuk “unwarranted” and blamed the administration of the Union Territory for “mishandling” the situation. “His arrest is unwarranted. There was no need to take this step; he is the most respectable person, who has always believed in Gandhian ideology. He dedicated himself for the interests of Ladakh,” AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir told reporters in Anantnag.

“He was treated like a criminal without any reason,” was an angry outburst from Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was arrested from his village Ulyaktopo two days after violent protests in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards, leaving four people dead and 59 others injured.

Wangchuk was arrested on Friday by a police party led by Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal. The Home Ministry blamed Wangchuk for making “provocative statements” that led to Wednesday’s violence, a charge the activist has consistently denied.

– via PTI

Andhra Pradesh state BJP president Vishnu Vardhan Reddy in a social media post raised questions on the “hypocrisy” of Congress over Wangchuk’s NGO’s FCRA license cancellation. “Videos of Wangchuk urging “We need Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to happen in India”, telling people that if China invades “we will show them the way” and teaching “how to hide your face during a protest” reveals his true motives. Congress accused him in 2007 of using foreign funds to destabilize Ladakh but took no actions. Now when his FCRA licence is cancelled and arrests may follow, Congress is crying. Why this hypocrisy?” his X post read. Reddy also shared videos of Wangchuk and the alleged Cong notice to him.

Sonam Wangchuk on September 24 posted a video message on X and appealed for peace as statehood demand protests got violent in Leh. “My message of peaceful path failed today. I appeal to youth to please stop this nonsense. This only damages our cause,” he said.

“You can cage a bird, but not it’s song,” actor Prakash Raj posted on X following Wangchuk’s detainment earlier today.