Detentions Mar Silent Protest in New Delhi as Ladakh Activists Call for Constitutional Inclusion

New Delhi: On Sunday, Delhi Police detained several protesters outside Ladakh Bhawan, where climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been conducting an indefinite hunger strike since October 6. The demonstrators were advocating for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, a legal framework that provides for greater autonomy to specified tribal areas.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the detainees were transported to Mandir Marg police station. Initial reports mistakenly identified Wangchuk among those detained, but this was later corrected by Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla. “We have detained some students from outside Ladakh Bhawan. Sonam Wangchuk is not among them,” Mahla clarified.

The protest, aiming to highlight demands for constitutional recognition and protections for Ladakh, was disrupted by the enforcement of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which prohibits unauthorized gatherings in the area. Wangchuk, in a video message, expressed his dismay over the detentions and criticized the permanent application of the BNSS in New Delhi, particularly against peaceful demonstrators. “Many came for a silent protest and were detained. It’s sad that in the world’s largest democracy, we can’t even hold a silent protest,” he stated, describing the situation as a “blot on our democracy.”

Wangchuk has also taken to social media to raise further awareness about the issue, sharing videos of the detentions on Instagram and calling for judicial intervention to safeguard democratic rights for peaceful assembly.

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