Leh sit-in enters 2nd day; Sonam Wangchuk alleges house arrest; protesters plan hunger strike

Srinagar: The protest in Leh entered its second day on Friday, with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk alleging that he had been placed under house arrest.

The sit-in organised by Apex Body Leh (ABL) is being held at NDS Memorial Sports Complex despite authorities banning protests in the wake of the upcoming panchayat elections scheduled for November 21 and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections on December 4. ABL has now decided to start a hunger strike from Saturday to intensify the peaceful protests, which will be led by religious leaders.

ABL chairman Cherring Dorjay Lakruk said: "Scores of people have joined the protest; a group of them and some ABL leaders stay overnight. This would continue until result-oriented dialogue with MHA is resumed, excise policy is reviewed and other demands are met."


They are also demanding deferment of the council elections as they are being held in extreme winter conditions. Some of the areas in Ladakh, like Stok and Kharu, have decided to boycott the upcoming polls. Parents of the four civilians killed on September 24, 2025, violence said they are still awaiting justice. The protesters are demanding that the judicial panel report on the violence be made public.

"UT administration is not bothered that our mothers and sisters are protesting in this biting cold," said Sajjad Kargili of Kargil Democratic Alliance.