The climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday alleged that the police had imposed a house arrest on him for 60 days ahead of scheduled protests over the next coming elections to deify the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
They were placed through an order of Additional District Magistrate Leh, which was issued after Wangchuk was dragged by protest groups from a protest site in Ladakh some days ago. The groups are contesting the government’s decision to hold the elections for the LAHDC on Dec. 4.
The administration has said that it has acted after a police report and a request by Senior Superintendent of Police Leh for preventive and restrictive action against Wangchuk.
Under the order, Sonam Wangchuk can’t hold or attend unauthorized processions or rallies or hold public assemblies. It also bans acts of “threat” to public peace, “distrurbation” to public tranquillity, and “obstruction” of peaceful conduct during the election process which is ongoing.
The issue was the Additional District Magistrate had invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita ( BNSS) to impose the restrictions. This was made immediate effect and will be in effect for 60 days.
The development comes a few weeks before the hill council elections, when the development is vehemently opposed by Wangchuk and several other local leaders.
The Councils have said that the difficult winter climate and seasonal mobility of Ladakhis may reduce the electoral process’s engagement of eligible voters and the turnout itself. Ahead of the planned council elections, the restrictions will further extend the current political debate over how and when the council elections are held.