Sonam Wangchuk Placed Under House Arrest for 60 Days
Leh, November 15: Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has been placed under house arrest for 60 days. He is prohibited from participating in rallies or processions. The order was issued by the additional district magistrate of Leh. It is noteworthy that council elections are scheduled to take place in Ladakh on December 4. The administration requested restrictions based on a police report. The magistrate invoked Section 163 of the BNSS to restrict Wangchuk’s movement. The order states, “This order will come into immediate effect and will remain in force for 60 days.”
Voting for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections is set for December 4. Sonam Wangchuk and other local leaders have opposed the timing of the elections.
What is the Controversy?
This will be the first major election in Ladakh since it became a Union Territory in 2019. Sonam Wangchuk and local organizations argue that severe cold weather in December drives many people, especially students and laborers, to temporarily leave Ladakh. Consequently, holding elections at this time would disenfranchise thousands of voters. Meanwhile, Ladakh’s Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra defended the decision to hold elections in winter, stating that the administration will provide heaters at polling stations and set up separate queues for the elderly.
He stated, “Schools in Ladakh are generally open until December 15-16. If children can go to school in this weather, adults should have no difficulty stepping out to vote. Timely formation of councils is essential so that the newly elected bodies can prepare the budget for the next financial year between January and March.”
What Did Sonam Wangchuk Say?
Shortly before the order was issued, Sonam Wangchuk reported that he had been placed under house arrest, with dozens of police officers surrounding his home. He stated, “I am under house arrest. Dozens of armed guards are stationed around my house. The government claims that I have been advised to stay home. This all happened because I asked some pointed questions.”