Saying that such violence has “never happened in the history” of Ladakh, Director General of Police S D Jamwal Saturday accused “so-called environmental activists” and groups who have “a question mark on their credibility” of hijacking the struggle for statehood and the Sixth Schedule.
Jamwal, while addressing a press conference in Leh a day after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act and moved to a jail in Jodhpur, claimed that some days ago, they detained a Person of Interest (POI) from Pakistan, who used to send “reports” about Wangchuk across the border. He said some Nepalese nationals were also part of the protest and were injured.
Ladakh Director General of Police S D Singh Jamwal on Saturday said climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is being probed for allegedly having links with Pakistan after he was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday, days after protests demanding statehood for the Union Territory resulted in violence.
The DGP said Wangchuk is being probed in the context of last month’s arrest of a Pakistani Intelligence Operative who sent videos of his protests across the border.
The police chief accused Wangchuk of being the key person behind Wednesday’s violence that resulted in the killing of four people when police opened fire at youth protesting in support of long-standing demands of statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
Two days after the violence, which also left more than 80 injured, Leh police detained Wangchuk near his residence under the NSA, 1980, which allows detention for up to 12 months without trial. The Ramon Magsaysay awardee was later moved to Jodhpur Central Jail.
“What has been found in the investigation (against Wangchuk) cannot be disclosed at this moment. The process is going on, and if you look at his profile and history, it is all available on YouTube. His speech worked as an instigation as he talked about the Arab spring and the recent unrest in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka,” the DGP claimed.
“He had his own agenda. There is a probe of foreign funding, violation of FCRA against him… We have a PIO with us who was reporting across the border, sending videos of the protests led by Wangchuk,” he said.
The police chief also cited some of Wangchuk’s foreign visits, and termed them as suspicious.
“He attended an event by The Dawn in Pakistan and also visited Bangladesh,” Jamwal told the media.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration has defended its decision to shift the climate activist to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan, claiming that he was “indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the State” and that keeping him in Leh was “not advisable in the larger public interest.”
Following Wangchuk’s arrest, authorities suspended mobile internet services in Leh, where curfew remains in place for a fourth straight day.
“There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere in Ladakh during the past 24 hours. The restrictions are in place to maintain law and order,” an official said.
The official said the patrolling and checking by police and paramilitary forces in the sensitive areas have been intensified, while raids are also underway to nab the absconding rioters, including a councillor who allegedly instigated the violence.
Defending Wangchuk’s transfer, the Ladakh administration claimed it had “taken a considered decision based on specific inputs” to detain Wangchuk under the NSA and move him to Jodhpur. It alleged that “time and again it was observed that Sonam Wangchuk has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the State and detrimental to maintenance of peace and public order and services essential to the community.
44 people arrested, main accused including Sonam Wangchuk nabbed: Ladakh DGP.
A total of 44 people have been arrested in connection with the September 24 violence in Leh, Director General of Police (DGP) Ladakh, SD Singh Jamwal said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference in Leh, DGP Jamwal said that the police have nabbed the main orchestrators of the violence, including activist Sonam Wangchuk.
He said, “We have arrested 44 people so far…The main ring leaders have been nabbed. Sonam Wangchuk, the main player, has been sent out under NSA charges.”
Earlier, DGP Jamwal alleged activist Sonam Wangchuk’s connection with Pakistan and raised questions over his visits to the neighbouring countries.
He said that the police arrested a Pakistan PIO, who was in touch with Wangchuk.
He said, “We arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was reporting back across. We have a record of this. He (Sonam Wanghchuk) had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan. He also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him…Investigation is being done.”
Further, he accused Wangchuk of instigating violence in Leh on September 24.
“Sonam Wangchuk has had a history of instigating. He has referred to the Arab Spring, Nepal and Bangladesh. The investigation into his funding is going on for FCRA violation,” he said.
Sonam Wangchuk has been lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail following his detention under the provisions of the National Security Act (NSA), officials said. He was taken to Jodhpur Central Jail last night after his arrest in Ladakh yesterday.
Wangchuk’s arrest comes amid chaos over the recent protests in Leh. The protests turned violent in Leh on September 24, following which the BJP office in the area was set on fire.
Two days after the death of four people amid firing by police during violent protests in the Union Territory, Wangchuk was detained under the provisions of the NSA. The climate activist has been accused of “inciting violence”.
Wangchuk was on a hunger strike, which ended right after the violence unfolded.