Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was marching to the national capital from Leh demanding sixth schedule status for Ladakh, was detained along with 120 people from the union territory at the Singhu border on Monday night.
A police officer said Wangchuk and others wanted to spend the night at the border. They were initially requested to go back as prohibitory orders were imposed in Delhi but when they did not stop, the policemen who were already deployed at the border, detained about 120 men, PTI reported quoting the officer.
The Delhi Police has banned the gathering of five or more persons, people carrying banners, placards arms and or protests in the central part and bordering areas till October 5, citing law and order issues, including calls of protests given by several organisations.
The 'Delhi Chalo Padyatra' was organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is spearheading an agitation over the past four years in support of statehood, extension of the Constitution's sixth schedule, early recruitment process along with a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi termed the action as "unacceptable". "The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable. Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh's future?" Rahul asked.
"Modi ji, like with the farmers, this 'Chakravyuh' will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh's voice," Rahul wrote on X
Women participating in the march were not detained, PTI reported citing sources. Wangchuk, in a post on Instagram shortly before being detained, shared visuals from the Delhi border, where their buses were stopped.
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Wangchuk said several vehicles of Delhi Police and Haryana Police were accompanying their buses and while they initially thought they were being escorted, as they approached the national capital, it was clear they were going to be detained.
"As we are approaching Delhi, it appears we are not being escorted, we are being detained," Wangchuk said.
He said around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed at the Delhi border and they have been informed that heavy deployment of security forces has been done at the Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi, and in areas where students from Ladakh reside. "It appears they don't want to allow this padyatra to take place," he said.