Sonam Wangchuk apprehends he might be killed in ‘encounter’
Leh: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, renowned environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk has expressed apprehension that he might be killed in an “encounter” for speaking out against the authorities, as he demanded the resignation of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah over last year’s violence in Leh that killed four people.
Sonam Wangchuk addressing a gathering said that he had received warnings regarding threats to his life and was prepared to face any outcome if it served to awaken the nation.
“They have put me in jail. Now there is even a possibility that I could be encountered somewhere. People tell me, ‘You will be encountered’. If that happens, let it happen — so that the country wakes up,” the activist said.
Wangchuk also demanded that the report of the judicial inquiry be made public, and warned that an independent “people’s tribunal” will be constituted to probe the police firing if the report is not released.
Holding the home minister politically responsible for the deaths during last year’s agitation, Wangchuk asserted that accountability must be fixed for the incident.
“Today, from Ladakh, I say — Amit Shah should resign. He has to take responsibility for what happened in Ladakh,” Wangchuk said, adding that Indian forces’ personnel used automatic weapons, including AK-47s, against local youth, who were subsequently branded as “anti-national”.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for Amit Shah’s resignation over police action against students at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Wangchuk supported the call but questioned Gandhi’s silence over the situation in Ladakh.
Referring to the deaths during last year’s protests, he said that protesters were killed by firing from automatic weapons. “A year ago, when the youth of Ladakh were trapped in such a situation, their lives were taken and they were subsequently branded as anti-India. Today, I say that those responsible must take responsibility,” he said.
Wangchuk also linked the violence to the long-standing demands of Ladakh, including constitutional safeguards, and said that assurances made to the people had subsequently not been fulfilled. He said justice for Ladakh was not merely the responsibility of the people of the Union Territory but of the entire country.
A shutdown was observed in Leh and other parts of Ladakh, marking the anniversary of the September 24 violence. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Leh and Kargil, while traffic was thin on the roads, affecting normal life.
