Environmental activist Soram Wangchuk has been placed under a 60-day house arrest and restricted from participating in public rallies or processions. An order by the Leh Additional District Magistrate was issued a day after Sonam Wangchuk was removed from the site amid protests by Ladakhi groups opposing the government’s decision to hold hill council elections on December 4.
The house arrest stemmed from a letter by the police chief requesting to issue preventive orders and imposition of restriction orders over Wangchuk. Upon Wangchuk, the magistrate has invoked Section 163 of the BNSS to impose restriction on Wangchuk’s movement.
“This order shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of 60 days,” the order said.
The order comes ahead of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections scheduled for 4 December, which is being opposed by various local leaders flagging the timing of the polls, arguing that winter conditions and seasonal migrations would disenfranchise many voters in Ladakh. Hours before the formal restoration orders were issued against the climate activist, he took to X mentioning that dozens of cops surrounded his home.
“I am under house arrest. Dozens of armed guards surround my house while the government version says ‘I have been advised to stay at home’. All for asking uncomfortable questions like… why is the Judicial Enquiry Commission Report (of last year’s killings in Leh) is delayed and a phoney council election foisted on people with rocket speed in mid winter? Whole of Ladakh is in protest. My X, Instagram & YouTube reach have been drastically suppressed in the world’s largest democracy. Please help share this message,” he said in a post on X.
After being carved out as a Union territory in 2019, the Ladakh administration will conduct its first major electoral exercise this year. The elections to all eight autonomous hill development councils are scheduled on December 4 amid boycott calls and protests against holding polls in winter.
The eight councils have 100 constituencies and include 36 seats reserved for women. According to the schedule announced by the Ladakh administration, November 17 is the last date for filing nominations followed by scrutiny on November 18. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 20. The election process will be completed by December 8.
The polls come against the backdrop of a prolonged agitation in Leh and Kargil with political and civil society groups demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
Defending the decision to conduct elections during the winter months, Ashish Kundra, chief secretary of Ladakh, has said the administration would make adequate arrangements to ensure that the weather conditions do not discourage voters from exercising their right.