Sonam Wangchuk Claims House Arrest Amid Protests Over Leh Elections

Leh, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Activist Sonam Wangchuk has claimed that he is under house arrest in Leh, Ladakh. This allegation comes as he and other regional representatives demand the postponement of the upcoming elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), scheduled for December.

On social media platform X, Wangchuk reported that numerous armed guards have been stationed around his home. He disputed official claims that he was merely advised to stay indoors.

“I am under house arrest. Dozens of armed guards are surrounding my home, while the government version states that I have been advised to remain at home,” he posted. He raised concerns about delays in the judicial inquiry report regarding last year’s killings in Leh and criticized the timing of the elections during winter, questioning why a council election is being forced upon the people at such a time.

Wangchuk further alleged that the entire region is in protest and claimed that access to his accounts on X, Instagram, and YouTube has been severely restricted. In a video message accompanying his post, he emphasized that he and his colleagues are demanding the release of the investigation report into the shooting incidents that occurred in Leh last year. He accused the administration of hastily conducting council elections to divert attention from these pressing issues.

In the video, Wangchuk detailed an incident where he and others were planning a protest. He stated that individuals claiming to be police officers approached them, instructing them not to leave. “They were wearing masks and hoodies, looking more like thugs than police officers,” he remarked.

When he expressed his readiness to be arrested, he was taken to his institute, where he also resides, and ordered not to leave the premises. “Dozens of police officers have been deployed to enforce my house arrest. Officials are publicly stating that I have been advised to stay home as a precaution. Peaceful protests occurred yesterday and will continue until our demands are met,” he added.

The administration has issued a notification for the LAHDC elections, with voting set for December 4. Wangchuk and local leaders have strongly opposed the winter schedule, arguing that extreme cold forces many residents, including students, to temporarily leave the region.