Mon Oct 14 16:41:55 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Police Detain Protesters Supporting Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike
**New Delhi:** Several individuals supporting climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike were detained by Delhi Police on Sunday outside the Ladakh Bhawan. The detainees, who included students, were taken to the Mandir Marg police station.
While initial reports suggested that Wangchuk himself was among those detained, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Devesh Mahla clarified that he was not.
Wangchuk, who has been on hunger strike since October 6 to demand the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, condemned the detentions in a video message. He questioned the permanent enforcement of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in New Delhi, which prohibits unauthorized gatherings.
“Many people came here today to observe a silent protest. It is really sad that they were detained by Delhi Police,” Wangchuk said, adding, “It is sad because in the world’s largest democracy, we can’t even hold a silent protest.”
The Ramon Magsaysay awardee further criticized the permanent application of Section 163, stating that it should only be enforced temporarily in cases where law and order is at risk.
“This is a blot on our democracy, and courts should also take cognisance of it… How can such sections be imposed permanently?” he asked.
Police justified the detentions by stating that the protesters did not have permission to sit outside the Ladakh Bhawan, where Section 163 of BNSS is in place. They also stated that the protesters’ application to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar was under consideration.
Wangchuk and his supporters, who marched to Delhi from Leh, were previously detained at the Singhu border on September 30 before being released on October 2.
The group is demanding a meeting with top government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss their demands for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth Schedule and other related issues.
The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of tribal areas in northeastern India. It grants autonomous councils in those areas legislative, judicial, executive, and financial powers.
The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance have been spearheading an agitation for the past four years seeking statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, a public service commission for the region, and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.
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