Ladakh unrest: Sonam Wangchuk vows to stay imprisoned — what he said from Jodhpur jail

NEW DELHI: Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk who is currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail , has called for peace and unity among the people of Ladakh.

He has also demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four protestors during the recent unrest in Leh.

Calls for an independent probe have intensified amid demands for accountability over police action during the September 24 protests, which were sparked by calls for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The unrest turned violent after protestors set a political party’s office on fire, resulting in four deaths and injured around 80 people.

In a post on X, Sajjad Kargili, leader of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), shared Wangchuk’s message, conveyed through his elder brother Ka Tsetan Dorjey Ley and advocate Mustafa Haji, who met him at Jodhpur Central Jail on Saturday.

Wangchuk’s message to the people of Ladakh:

I am doing well, both physically and mentally and thank everyone for their concern and prayers.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested.

There should be an independent Judicial Inquiry into the killing of our four people and unless that is done I am prepared to stay in Jail.

I stand firmly with Apex Body and the KDA and the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood and whatever actions Apex Body takes in the interest of Ladakh, I am with them , wholeheartedly.

I appeal people to keep peace and unity and continue with our struggle peacefully- in the true Gandhian way of non-violence.

Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, two days after the violent protests erupted in Leh. He remains in Jodhpur Central Jail while investigations continue.