Ladakh Police on Wednesday removed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from his protest site in Leh and escorted him to his residence, advising him to remain at home in view of prohibitory orders restricting public gatherings during the ongoing election process.
In a statement, the police said the preventive action was taken in compliance with orders issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the District Magistrate, Leh. The orders prohibit public rallies, protests and other gatherings within the limits of Leh Municipality.
“Shri Sonam Wangchuk has been advised to stay at his residence,” the police said, adding that the action was taken under the prevailing prohibitory orders to prevent any potential breach of public order and maintain peace and tranquillity.
The police also urged people to comply with the restrictions in view of the Panchayat, Municipal and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections and refrain from activities that could disrupt public order.
WANGCHUK APPEALS TO PRESIDENT, PM TO INTERVENE
Following the police action, Wangchuk posted a video message on X, appealing to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the people of India to intervene in the situation in Ladakh.
In his message, titled “Ladakh’s SOS Appeal to the Nation”, Wangchuk alleged that the judicial inquiry into the September 24 incidents in Leh was progressing slowly, more than a year after the events. He also claimed that talks on restoring democracy in the Union Territory had broken down.
Questioning the timing and conduct of the upcoming council elections, Wangchuk alleged that the administration was pushing ahead with the polls to install people of its choice to negotiate on issues concerning democracy and safeguards for Ladakh.
He also raised concerns over the proposed election schedule, pointing out that December and January are the coldest and snowiest months in the region, with temperatures falling below minus 30 degrees Celsius in several places. He claimed that nearly half the population migrates out of Ladakh during this period for education, holidays and pilgrimage.
LADAKH’S SOS APPEAL TO THE NATION While the Judicial Inquiry Commission report of September 24th incidents in Leh moves at snail’s pace, even after a year of the incidents & the talks on restoration of democracy have broken down, the UT Administration is moving at rocket speed to conduct some kind of ‘Council Elections’ here, apparently to have people of their choice installed to negotiate on democracy & safeguards here. December & January are the coldest & snowiest months with temperature dipping below –30 C in many places & close to half the population migrates out of Ladakh for education, vacation, pilgrimage etc. Moreover weather reports show heavy snow in that whole week… people in every region of Ladakh are protesting against the type of Councils & manner of conduct of these elections. In this video the leadership of Leh & Kargil including the Member of Parliament have come together to appeal to the honorable President @rashtrapatibhvn , PM @narendramodi, HM @AmitShah & the LOP @RahulGandhi & fellow citizens of #India to please intervene before we are forced to start peaceful but intense agitations to demonstrate our pain.— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) November 11, 2026
Citing weather reports forecasting heavy snowfall during the election week, Wangchuk said people across different regions of Ladakh were protesting against the proposed councils and the manner in which the elections were being conducted.
He said leaders from Leh and Kargil, including the Member of Parliament, had come together to appeal to the President, Prime Minister, Home Minister and Leader of Opposition to intervene.
Wangchuk warned that people could be forced to launch peaceful but intense protests if their concerns were not addressed.
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