Ladakh: Sonam Wangchuk withdraws march to LAC citing possibility of violence

This decision comes as the Union Territory administration has enforced Section 144 of the CrPC in the region.

Recently, Wangchuk, who undertook a 21-day fast advocating for safeguards for Ladakh's delicate ecology and indigenous culture, had called for a public march to the China border on April 7 to assess the extent of land loss by locals to China. The march was to be led by local tribal leaders.

According to an Indian Express report on Saturday, Wangchuk said, “We have been holding peaceful demonstrations in the form of fasting and prayers over the last 35 days. We had also planned a peaceful march on April 7. The purpose of the Pashmina March was to highlight the plight of the Changpa nomadic tribes who are losing thousands of square kilometres of their land due to Chinese incursion in the north and our own corporates in the south.”

He said that the “purpose of the march had been met ahead of the march itself”, he said there’s “suppression” attempts and “overreaction” on part of the government, “under these circumstances chances of violence are very high, which could then be used to label this peaceful movement anti-national”.

The ongoing peaceful fast will, however, continue, he added, said the report.

Wangchuk asserted that the imposition of Section 144, the restriction on internet access, and limitations on movement by the UT administration had transformed Leh into what he described as "a war-like zone with armed barricades" on roads.

Ahead of the cancellation of the march, Wangchuk expressed concern on Saturday regarding the alleged detention of youths in Leh and their purported coercion to sign bonds, among other imposed restrictions.

“Even from the site of our protest, people were picked up and asked to sign bonds,” he said.

The locals were released by the police after discussions with religious leaders, said the activist, according to the report.

Wangchuk emphasised that the government’s “overreaction” is itself a revelation of “how much they have to hide.”

He stated that the people of Ladakh are involved with this movement. “All they are trying to do is remind the government of their promises,” he said, according to the report.