Wangchuk Fears Encounter, Seeks Shah's Resignation on Leh Killings Anniversary
Sonam Wangchuk says he may be killed in an encounter and blames the Centre for the situation in Ladakh, as hundreds mark the first anniversary of the Leh firing.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday said he feared being killed in an encounter, holding the Centre responsible for the treatment of the people of Ladakh. His remarks came on the first anniversary of the violence and civilian killings in Leh, during which he alleged that New Delhi's treatment of Ladakhis was worse than China's treatment of Tibetans.
Wangchuk claimed the violence of September 24 last year was orchestrated and that attempts were made to trigger communal riots in the region. He demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, asking him to take responsibility for the violence and the civilian deaths.
"I know after speaking today, they will suppress me, they have done it before. I was sent to jail. Now, only an encounter is left. It's my wish that they kill me in an encounter. Experts tell me your encounter will happen. Let it happen so that the nation awakens," Wangchuk said.
Hundreds gathered in Ladakh to pay homage to four people, including a former war hero, who were killed in security forces firing during protests in Leh last year. After the violence, police arrested dozens of protesters on charges of rioting, attacking security forces and burning government property. On the eve of the first anniversary, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh withdrew cases against all the accused.
Wangchuk described the violence as a conspiracy and demanded that the probe ordered into it be made public so that people know who was behind the events of September 24. He alleged that attempts were made to cause communal riots between Muslims and Buddhists in Ladakh, claiming that three Muslim officers were deployed as magistrates that day so that they would issue firing orders and Buddhists would blame Muslims for the killings. He said the officers refused to issue the orders.
He further alleged that after firing without a magistrate's order killed civilians, officials were pressured to give post-facto firing orders, but they again refused to sign, telling senior officers they would rather die or leave service than sign such orders.
Wangchuk said the root of the problem in Ladakh was that the Centre and Shah had backtracked on promises made to the people of the region. "Delhi is directly responsible for the situation in Ladakh. They promised the 6th Schedule and even statehood to our leadership. But then, Amit Shah categorically refused to grant the 6th Schedule to Ladakh," he said.