New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk voiced grave apprehensions on Thursday that he could be targeted and killed in a staged police encounter for speaking out against the government, while demanding the immediate resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over deadly violence in Leh last year.
Addressing a gathering on the first anniversary of the September 24 unrest, which erupted during demonstrations demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory, Wangchuk stated that he had received direct warnings concerning threats to his life. He noted that he was prepared to face any consequence if his death served to awaken the conscience of the country. Recalling his prior detention, he remarked that several people had cautioned him about the possibility of an extrajudicial killing, adding that accountability could no longer be ignored.
Wangchuk demanded that the findings of the official judicial inquiry into the police firing be made public without further delay. He warned that if authorities refuse to release the inquiry report, an independent citizens’ tribunal will be constituted to conduct a transparent probe into the firing that claimed four lives.
Placing direct political responsibility on the Union Home Minister for the fatalities during the agitation, Wangchuk asserted that institutional accountability must be established for the actions taken against local demonstrators. He alleged that security forces deployed automatic weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, against local youth who were subsequently labelled as anti-national elements.
Wangchuk also addressed the wider political response, referencing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for Shah’s resignation over security crackdowns against students in New Delhi. While expressing support for that demand, Wangchuk questioned the political silence surrounding the lethal action in Ladakh, underscoring that protesters in the region suffered fatal gunshot wounds to their heads and chests.
Emphasizing that the tragedy was rooted in unfulfilled assurances regarding regional autonomy and constitutional safeguards, Wangchuk maintained that securing justice for Ladakh is an obligation that rests upon the entire nation.
