Leh: Ahead of the planned Pashmina march along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), engineer-turned-education reformist Sonam Wangchuk expressed concern about the attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders and even singers. Pointing towards the use of “disproportionate force, barricades, and smoke grenades,” suggesting that Leh is being transformed into a war zone.
In his social media video shared on Saturday, Wangchuk raised concerns, stating, “LEH IS BEING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades.
Attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders even singers continue. Seems they want to turn a most peaceful movement violent & then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals.
Govt seems worried only about Ladakh’s effects on their votes and on mining lobbies… not the people here nor even national security. Let’s raise our voice, let’s make…,” he wrote in his social media post.
In a nearly 6-minute-long video, Wangchuk recalled how individuals were taken from the protest site to the police station, forced into signing papers, and threatened with arrest. However, the situation was diffused after local religious leaders of different faiths intervened for their release.
The local authority imposed section 144 in Leh, following the announcement of the ‘Pashmina march’ on April 7 along the LAC. The Environmental activist strongly criticized this decision, arguing that people had been peacefully protesting for weeks without any need for such stringent measures.
In response to the section 144 imposition, District Magistrate Santosh Sukhadeve stated raising concerns over potential breaches of peace and public tranquility in the district.
Wangchuk just a few days ago concluded his 21-day fast, surviving on only salt and water, to demand Ladakh’s statehood and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, aiming to safeguard the ecologically sensitive region from abusive industries.
LEH IS BEING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE
with disproportionate force, barricades, smoke grenades.
Attempts to arrest peaceful youth leaders even singers continue. Seems they want to turn a most peaceful movement violent & then brand Ladakhis as anti-nationals.
Govt seems worried… pic.twitter.com/851iI8ZWHY— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) April 6, 2024
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