Leh: Ladakh Police on Wednesday removed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site and escorted him to his residence, advising him to stay indoors, an official said.
The action came a few hours after Wangchuk, along with leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), expressed resentment over the decision to hold hill council elections on December 4, citing harsh winter conditions and large-scale seasonal migration.
In a public notice, the police said the preventive action against Wangchuk was taken in compliance with orders regulating public rallies, protests and other gatherings within the limits of Leh Municipality amid the ongoing election exercise.
"Sonam Wangchuk has been advised to stay at his residence in view of the prohibitory orders issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, UT Ladakh, and the District Magistrate, Leh," Ladakh Director General of Police Anand Jain said in a post on X.
Ahead of the elections to the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC), the Union Territory is also scheduled to hold municipal and panchayat elections on November 21.
The LAB and KDA, which are spearheading an agitation demanding, among other things, constitutional safeguards and statehood and are engaged in dialogue with the Union government, appealed to the President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to help defer the LAHDC elections.
Later on Wednesday, Wangchuk led a protest in Leh demanding the deferment of the LAHDC elections.
The police said the action against Wangchuk was taken under the powers vested in the competent authority by the prevailing prohibitory orders, with the objective of preventing any potential breach of public order and maintaining peace and tranquillity.
"The general public is advised to strictly adhere to the prohibitory orders in view of the Panchayat, Municipal and LAHDC elections in Ladakh and refrain from any activity that may disturb public peace and law and order," the police said.