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Sonam Wangchuk and other protesters remain in detention in Delhi, hold hunger strike in police stations

Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and several protesters taking part in a ‘Chalo Dilli’ march continued to be detained on Wednesday morning, according to the Delhi Police. Meanwhile, the detained protesters have been on hunger strike in police stations since Tuesday.

“The protestors planned to continue their march on Gandhi Jayanti. So, they continued to be detained throughout Tuesday night and were not released. As of now, they would remain in detention,” said a police officer who was aware of the matter.

The Delhi Police detained the protesters for allegedly violating prohibitory orders passed a few hours before the contingent reached Delhi’s border on Monday. Members of Leh Apex Body, which organised the protest, claimed that the police were about to release some detainees on Tuesday but then did not proceed with the release.

Talking to The Indian Express, Leh Apex Body co-chairperson Tsering Gorjoy said, “Sonam Wangchuk is still under detention; his cellphone has been taken away from him, so we can no longer call him. Meanwhile, there are a few activists who are being detained at different places, so they have been sitting on a hunger strike from there…Our MP and CEC were also detained after they went to visit Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday, but they have been released. There were some 25 people from Kargil whom they (the police) were about to release yesterday (Tuesday). They took them out in a bus, but then they returned without releasing them.”

“Today is our second day and we are on hunger strike against our unconstitutional, unwarranted detention. I ask the government—are we, the people of Ladakh, considered traitors or enemies of this country? The government must recognize that the people of Ladakh believe in resolving issues through dialogue,” posted Sajjad Kargil, one of the protesters, on X.

The march toward the capital led by Leh Apex Body began a month ago in Ladakh. The march aims to secure statehood for Ladakh, extend the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, establish an early recruitment process, create a public service commission for Ladakh, and secure separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts. The foot march was scheduled to end at Raj Ghat on Wednesday on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.


Source: indianexpress


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