SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body (LAB) member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was put under “house arrest” Thursday as an agitation began against a govt decision to hold Ladakh hill council polls on Dec 4 despite pleas to avoid the elections in the Union Territory (UT) during the harsh winter.Police removed Wangchuk from protest site NDS Memorial Park in Leh late Wednesday when he went there to oversee preparations, initially saying he “has been advised to stay at his residence”. Later, the Leh SSP issued formal “preventive” orders and restrictions on Wangchuk, saying his “activities, antecedents and alleged attempts to instigate the general public have affected public order before and there is an apprehension his future demonstrations may again lead to disturbance of peace”. “Dozens of armed guards surround my house,” Wangchuk posted late Thursday.A ban was clamped Wednesday on protests in view of the Dec 4 hill council polls and municipal/panchayat polls on Nov 21.Wangchuk and his LAB colleagues then issued an “SOS” appeal to President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to defer the polls.…
Wangchuk under ‘house arrest’ as Ladakh rallies against hill council polls in winter
In short
The Leh Apex Body organized a peaceful dharna to protest the administration's plan to hold hill council polls across all eight districts on December 4. Activists appealed directly to top national leaders, arguing that roughly 30 percent of the population lives outside the region during winter and cannot easily participate. Government officials rejected calls for postponement, noting that local schools remain open until mid-December as evidence that voting can proceed. In addition to the hill council races, municipal and panchayat elections are scheduled for November 21, with all ballots set to be counted on December 8.
Key points
- The Leh Apex Body claims winter voting risks disenfranchising nearly 30 percent of Ladakh…: The Leh Apex Body claims winter voting risks disenfranchising nearly 30 percent of Ladakh's population residing elsewhere.
- Community members defied public demonstration bans to stage a peaceful sit-in across Leh…: Community members defied public demonstration bans to stage a peaceful sit-in across Leh and Kargil.
- Municipal and panchayat elections will proceed on November 21, with total vote counting s…: Municipal and panchayat elections will proceed on November 21, with total vote counting set for December 8.