India’s first helicopter ‘final assembly line’ in the private sector, is set to come up in Vemagal in Karnataka, the European giant, Airbus, announced on Wednesday.

In India, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will build the Airbus H-125 helicopters.

The ‘Made in India’ H125 helicopter is not just a civilian copter. It can also meet the Indian Armed Force’s requirement for a light multi-role helicopter, especially on the icy heights of the Himalayan frontiers.

Plans for the ‘Made in India’ copter include a military version, the H125M. It will be offered out of this Indian factory with high levels of indigenised components and technologies, Airbus said.

Court grants interim bail to 26 of 50 persons arrested in connection with violence

T he Centre is learnt to have reached out to a senior leader of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), a day after two Ladakh outfits jointly announced suspension of talks in the wake of death of four protesters in firing by security personnel and detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

The outreach came as a local court in Leh granted interim bail to 26 of the around 50 persons arrested in connection with last week’s violence.

Sources said Central government officials contacted LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay, who confirmed the development to The Tribune. Members of the apex body said Dorjay had conveyed that talks could resume only if the demands jointly raised by the LAB and KDA were met. “Dialogue can begin once the demands announced by Ladakh leaders are fulfilled,” an apex body member said.

Members of the LAB along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been leading the agitation for Ladakh’s statehood and the Sixth Schedule status, announced the suspension of talks with the Centre. They put forward several new demands, including a judicial probe into the violence and the release of those detained after the clashes. The next high-level meeting was scheduled for October 6.

Violence broke out last week during a hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, when protesters, mostly youth, torched the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council building and several vehicles. Security forces opened fire, resulting in four deaths.

In the aftermath, the Ladakh Police arrested more than 50 persons. On Wednesday evening, Mohd Shafi Lassu, president of the Bar Association, Leh, said the court granted interim bail to 26 detainees, including two migrant labourers from Bihar. “We had applied for bail for 39 persons arrested on September 24. The court has granted interim bail to 26, who are likely to be released on Thursday morning,” he said. Those bailed out must appear before court again on October 4.Lassu said bail applications for others were pending. Dorjay welcomed the court’s order, calling it a “good beginning”.

Meanwhile, at least 12 youth, who had been on the run after the protests, had surrendered before a local court last week.

Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act on September 26, two days after violent clashes in Leh town left four persons dead and scores of others injured

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, on Wednesday sought President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention for the release of the climate activist, who has been lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan since being taken into custody following the September 24 violent clashes in Ladakh.

In a three-page letter addressed to the president, Wangchuk’s wife alleged “witch-hunt” against her husband for espousing the cause of the people over the past four years and said she was completely unaware about her husband’s condition.

“We request for an unconditional release of Wangchuk, a person who can never be a threat to anyone, leave alone his nation. He has dedicated his life to serve the brave sons of soil of Ladakh and stands in solidarity with the Indian Army in defence of our great nation,” Angmo said in the representation forwarded through the Deputy Commissioner, Leh.

Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act on September 26, two days after violent clashes in Leh town left four persons dead and scores of others injured. The violence broke out during the protests in support of the demands, including statehood for Ladakh and the region’s inclusion in Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

She termed Wangchuk’s detention as “illegal” and said she was informed of this by a Station House Officer.

“I was also told the officer would explain to me my legal rights. Even that has not been done till today. I am shocked and devastated,” she said, adding that while being taken away, he was not even allowed to take his clothes. “I am not aware whether he has been given fresh clothes and basic amenities including medicines that he needs on a daily basis, especially after his fast of 15 days in September that has weakened him physically.”

Calling the treatment “deplorable”, she said Wangchuk had been speaking about climate change, educational reforms, and grassroots innovation, and raising his voice for the uplift of a backward tribal belt that is ecologically fragile, in a peaceful Gandhian manner for the last four years.

“To treat the son of the soil of Ladakh so shabbily is not just a sin but a strategic error for building strong borders with solidarity and peaceful coexistence,” she said, while highlighting that Wangchuk had been building shelters for the Indian Army officers and jawans.

Asking if it was a sin to fight against reckless and unchecked development activities in an ecologically fragile area of Ladakh, she said, “This country has learnt its lessons from its experiences from Uttarakhand, Himachal and the North-east of late. You, being from a tribal community background, would understand the feelings of the people of Ladakh better than anyone else.”

Angmo, who is the founder and chief executive officer of the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), also stated that she was put under CRPF surveillance and referred to a communication received from in-charge of the special investigation team, seeking details of students and staff residing at HIAL. She also said that two members of the institute were taken into custody three days ago.

A screengrab from a video shows Swedish activist Greta Thunberg sitting next to a person wearing tactical gear, as vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla are being intercepted by Israeli security forces, October 1, 2025. Israel Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising nearly 50 boats and 500 activists, was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza

A screengrab from a video shows Swedish activist Greta Thunberg sitting next to a person wearing tactical gear, as vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla are being intercepted by Israeli security forces, October 1, 2025. Israel Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Activists on board a flotilla of vessels sailing towards Gaza said late on Wednesday that the Israeli navy had intercepted three of its boats as they approached the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israeli authorities said the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, were safe and being transferred to Israel.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising nearly 50 boats and 500 activists, was carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Sirius, Alma and Adara boats were intercepted some 70 nautical miles (80 miles) from the coast of Gaza, according to organisers who shared live positions of the flotilla.

The group, which includes Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau and several European lawmakers, said it remained undeterred in its mission to break the Israeli blockade and bring aid to Palestinians.

Greg Stoker, an American veteran aboard the Ohwayla, one of the boats in the flotilla, said around a dozen naval vessels with their transponders off had approached it.

“They are currently hailing our vessels, telling us to turn off our engines and await further instructions or our boats will be seized and we will face the consequences,” he said in a shaky video posted on Instagram while wearing a red life jacket. Israeli authorities used water cannons against some of the boats, Stoker and other activists reported on social media.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a video on X showing Thunberg sitting on a ship’s deck being handed a water bottle and raincoat. “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” it said.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the Israeli operation was expected to take two to three hours. He told state TV Rai that the boats would be towed to Israel’s port of Ashdod and the activists would be deported in the coming days. He also said Israeli forces have been told “not to use violence”.

Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s interception of the boats denouncing it as an “act of terrorism” and severe breach of international law. In a statement, the ministry said it was taking initiatives to ensure the immediate release of Turkish citizens and other passengers detained by the Israeli forces.

The flotilla enters a ‘danger zone’

The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt and had entered what activists and others called a “danger zone”. While still in international waters, it is an area where the Israeli navy has stopped other boats attempting to break its blockade in the past and which the flotilla has been warned not to cross.

After a tense encounter with two Israeli military vessels in the early hours of Wednesday, activists had resumed their journey and were broadcasting their voyage on livestreams from several of the boats. Some activists held up messages of solidarity with people in Gaza and chanted “Free Palestine!” on camera. Music could be heard playing in the background.

As night fell, they detected via radar several unidentified vessels approaching them and put their life vests on ahead of the Israeli military’s imminent arrival. Some activists were able to broadcast the moment Israeli forces approached them live from their smartphones before tossing their devices into the water.

The flotilla, which began its journey from the Spanish port of Barcelona a month ago, was to reach the shores of Gaza by Thursday morning, organisers had said earlier.

Activists had acknowledged that scenario was unlikely and were expecting Israeli authorities to try to stop them at any moment, as they have done in past attempts.

But this flotilla, with dozens of boats, was the largest attempt yet to break the Israeli maritime blockade of the Gaza strip that has been ongoing for 18 years.

Tearful goodbye to Kargil war veteran, youth killed in firing

Meet Colonel Sonam Wangchuk: The Real Lion of Ladakh and Hero of Kargil

After Operation Sindoor’s success, Rajnath Singh calls for stronger tri-services integration

Death of Army officer’s child: Bombay High Court quashes prosecution of 2 Lt Colonels

Sonam Wangchuk’s wife refutes Pakistan-link allegations, asks can attending climate meet make one ISI agent?

Army incorporates lessons from Op Sindoor to strengthen its drone warfare capabilities

Blast targets security forces in Pakistan’s Quetta, 10 dead; CCTV captures moment

WARFARE MEASURED IN HOURS:RAJNATH

Ludhiana’s Veteran Gunners will gather at the Ludhiana Defence Officers Institute to celebrate the occasion with pride and camaraderie. 

Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke quit the Indian Air Force in 1968 and immigrated to Australia.

Supreme Court Directs Union To Grant Pension To Ex-IAF Officer Who Was Released After 15 Years As Short Service Commission Woman Officer

MiG-21 retires: A look at the women who tamed the Bison

Maritime threats becoming tech-driven: Rajnath

Wangchuk who went to Pakistan

45-year-old former Army soldier Tsewang Tharchin, and Rinchen Dadul, the sole caregiver for his specially-abled mother, were laid to rest on Monday

Ladakh on Monday bid farewell to two of the victims killed in CRPF firing during recent violence in Leh, including a Kargil War veteran and a 23-year-old youth. Their cremations were held amid a strict curfew, days after the deadly clashes on September 24 that left four people dead and nearly 100 injured.

The last rites took place under heavy security and restrictions. A day after the cremation of two others, authorities imposed stringent curbs across Leh town on Monday, sealing roads leading to the cremation ground. Security personnel were seen checking identity cards of even government officials, while police deployed checkpoints on the city’s outskirts to inspect all vehicles.

Those cremated on Monday were 45-year-old former Army soldier Tsewang Tharchin, a veteran of the Kargil War, and Rinchen Dadul, a young travel company employee who was the sole caregiver for his specially-abled mother.

Relatives of the deceased said the cremations were conducted quietly, with only close family members, relatives, and villagers in attendance. “The cremation took place in the afternoon. Only family and close relatives were allowed,” said a relative of Tharchin.

For the second consecutive day, media personnel were barred from covering the funerals. The Leh Apex Body called the media blackout “unfortunate,” accusing the government of attempting to “hide the truth.”

Tharchin and Rinchen were among the four civilians killed when security forces opened fire during a violent protest in Leh on Wednesday. Rinchen, the youngest of six siblings, was described by his family as a vital support system for his mother.

“His mother is unable to walk and was entirely dependent on Rinchen. She is devastated by his death,” said his maternal uncle.

As of Monday, curfew remained in place across Leh for the sixth consecutive day, with no relaxation granted. Officials stated that since the cremations were conducted peacefully, limited curfew relaxation may be announced on Tuesday. Mobile internet services also remained suspended.

On Saturday, a brief curfew relaxation had allowed locals to rush to markets to stock up on essential items.

Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, often hailed as the “Real Lion of Ladakh,” stands as a symbol of unyielding courage and strategic brilliance in the annals of Indian military history. Born on May 11, 1964, in the serene village of Sankar near Leh in Ladakh, India, Wangchuk’s life journey from a modest Himalayan upbringing to becoming a decorated war hero encapsulates the spirit of resilience that defines the people of this high-altitude region. His story, particularly his pivotal role in the 1999 Kargil War, continues to inspire generations, blending tales of battlefield valor with a post-retirement commitment to community

Roots in Ladakh: Family, Education, and Early Influences

Wangchuk’s early life was deeply intertwined with Ladakh’s cultural and spiritual fabric. A native of Khakshal village near Leh town, he was born into a family with notable connections his mother was the sister of politician Thupstan Chhewang and the niece of the revered spiritual leader Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. His father, initially a forest ranger, later served as the security officer for the 14th Dalai Lama, exposing young Wangchuk to influences of Tibetan Buddhism and monastic discipline. This environment instilled in him a profound respect for nature and a calm demeanor under pressure, traits that would prove invaluable in his military career.

At around five years old in 1969, Wangchuk moved to Solan, Himachal Pradesh, attending St. Luke’s School until the fourth standard. By 1973, the family relocated to Dharamshala, where he studied at Sacred Heart High School and had personal interactions with the Dalai Lama due to his father’s role. In 1975, a transfer to Delhi led him to The Modern School on Barakhamba Road. He pursued higher education at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history. Despite his father’s aspirations for him to enter civil services, Wangchuk was drawn to the army, inspired by his relative, Colonel Wangdus, who exemplified military service.

These formative years in diverse settings from the stark beauty of Ladakh to the bustling capital honed his adaptability and fostered a deep patriotism. Growing up amid the Himalayas, he developed an innate understanding of mountainous terrain, which later became a strategic advantage in his military exploits.

Forging a Military Career: From Commissioning to Specialized Service

Wangchuk’s entry into the Indian Army marked the beginning of a distinguished three-decade career. He attended the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 4th Battalion of the Assam Regiment on June 13, 1987, with service number IC-45952M. His initial postings tested his mettle: as a company commander in Ukhrul, Northeast India, he handled counter-insurgency operations in challenging tribal areas. He then served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka, gaining experience in international conflict zones.

Recognizing his affinity for high-altitude warfare, Wangchuk was deputed to the Indus Wing of the Ladakh Scouts, a regiment comprising local Ladakhi soldiers known as the “Snow Tigers” or “Snow Warriors.” Formed originally as the Nubra Guards in 1948 and reorganized as an infantry regiment in 2000, the Ladakh Scouts specialize in mountain warfare, leveraging their physiological adaptations to extreme altitudes. Wangchuk’s leadership in this unit would culminate in his promotion to Major and, eventually, Colonel before his retirement in 2018.

Throughout his service, Wangchuk accumulated a host of decorations beyond his gallantry award, reflecting consistent excellence:

This table illustrates the breadth of his contributions, from frontline combat to sustained operational duties.

The Hero of Kargil: The Battle of Chorbat La

The 1999 Kargil War thrust Wangchuk into the national spotlight. As Pakistani forces, disguised as militants from the Northern Light Infantry, infiltrated Indian territory during the harsh winter, occupying strategic heights 10-15 km inside the Line of Control (LOC), India mounted Operation Vijay to evict them. Wangchuk, then a Major leading a column from the Indus Wing of the Ladakh Scouts in the Batalik sector, was tasked with securing a ridge line at Chorbat La a glaciated pass at approximately 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) elevation.

On May 30-31, 1999, his patrol of about 25-40 men encountered an ambush by heavily armed Pakistani intruders, estimated at around 135 troops entrenched in 12-13 tents beyond the LOC. The enemy, positioned advantageously, opened fire, killing Havildar Tsewang Rigzin (or another NCO) due to excessive bleeding in the sub-zero temperatures of minus 6 degrees Celsius amid two feet of snow. Undeterred, Wangchuk held his column together, splitting them into flanking positions for a counter-ambush. Waiting for nightfall and aided by mist, his team blessed with sacred threads from the Dalai Lama launched a surprise dawn attack on June 1, killing 10+ enemy soldiers and forcing the rest to retreat.

They recovered significant enemy assets: one heavy machine gun, one universal machine gun, ammunition, controlled stores, and three enemy bodies. This three-day battle cleared the Chorbat La axis up to the LOC, preventing Pakistan from blocking vital supply routes and marking India’s first clear territorial gain in the war. Wangchuk’s unit held the position for 14 days before handing it over to the 14th Sikh Regiment. Six of his soldiers also received gallantry medals for their roles.

The official Maha Vir Chakra citation captures the essence: “Major Sonam Wangchuk displayed exceptional bravery and gallantry of the highest order in the presence of enemy fire and in extreme conditions in the glaciated area.” This victory boosted Indian morale and laid the groundwork for subsequent operations, as Wangchuk himself noted in recent reflections, calling the Pakistani infiltration a “clear act of treachery.”

Wangchuk praised the Ladakh Scouts’ unique edge: as “born mountain warriors,” their physiological strength, mental toughness, and patriotism make them unparalleled in high-altitude combat, outperforming in wars like 1962, 1965, and 1999. He emphasized their stamina, endurance, and calm under pressure, asserting that in mountain warfare, they have “no match.”

Post-Retirement: A Life of Quiet Service and Inspiration

Retiring in 2018, Wangchuk eschewed the limelight, focusing instead on meaningful contributions. He works with youth programs, supports veterans’ families, and advocates for protecting Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem. As a concerned citizen, he has voiced support for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh post the abrogation of Article 370, though not in a leadership role.

His story gained wider reach through the 2017 documentary The Lion of Ladakh, directed by Soumil Shetty and released by President Ram Nath Kovind to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ladakh Scouts. Featuring interviews with Wangchuk, his wife Padma Angmo, his men, and retired officers like Lieutenant-General Mohinder Puri, it has amassed over 2.5 million views. The film highlights his remarkable fitness he runs 14-15 kilometers daily at 18,000 feet and his light-hearted personality.

In recent years, Wangchuk has delivered motivational talks, such as at the OTA in Gaya in September 2024, sharing personal anecdotes to inspire cadets. Returning to Chorbat La after 26 years in 2025, he noted improved infrastructure like roads and communications, affirming the Indian Army’s readiness. Social media tributes in 2025 continue to celebrate him, with posts recounting his defeat of overwhelming odds and calling for recognition of such heroes.

Legacy: The Enduring Symbol of Ladakhi Valor

Colonel Sonam Wangchuk’s moniker, “The Real Lion of Ladakh,” stems from his ferocious defence of his homeland, embodying the quiet bravery that turned the tide in Kargil. While accounts vary slightly such as enemy numbers or exact casualties, reflecting the complexities of wartime reporting his impact is unequivocal: a first victory that inspired the nation and highlighted the Ladakh Scouts’ indispensable role. Married to Padma Angmo, Wangchuk lives a life of humility, reminding us that true heroes often speak through actions rather than words. His story urges remembrance of soldiers’ sacrifices and the importance of safeguarding border regions like Ladakh, ensuring their legacy endures in India’s collective memory.

The Defence Minister said that joint operations during Operation Sindoor delivered ‘decisive results’ and that success must be a ‘benchmark’ for future operations

Terming “jointness” among the three-armed forces as a “core operational necessity”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said joint operations during Operation Sindoor, delivered “decisive results” and that success must be a “benchmark” for future operations.

The minister was speaking at a seminar on ‘Fostering greater jointness’, hosted by the Indian Air Force on Tuesday. Referring to the efficacy of joint operations during Operation Sindoor, he said: “The tri‑service synergy produced a unified, real‑time operational picture. It empowered commanders to make timely decisions, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced the risk of fratricide. This is a living example of jointness delivering decisive results, and this success must become the benchmark for all future operations.”

The event took place just two weeks after PM Modi instructed the Ministry of Defence to swiftly implement “concrete steps” to achieve greater jointness among the forces to meet future challenges and prevail under any eventuality. In military terms, jointness is the first step toward creating “theatre commands.” It entails coordination in planning, operations, training, communications and acquisitions.

This should be followed by the integration, or the amalgamation, of different sensors, systems, weapons and networks of each service. The creation of a common commander — the theatre commander — for the execution of tasks should be the next step.

Meanwhile, the minister was categorical on the government’s objective to promote jointness and integration among the three services – the Army, IAF and Navy. “This is not only a matter of policy but a matter of survival in the fast-changing security environment,” Rajnath added.

“The evolving character of warfare makes jointness a core operational necessity rather than a matter of choice… No single service can operate in isolation. Interoperability and jointness are now essential for success in any conflict,” he asserted.

This does not mean erasing the unique identity of each of the services, the minister said adding “integration must respect uniqueness of each force… We cannot impose uniformity where it does not fit. Our task is to create a shared baseline that preserves uniqueness while building interoperability”.

“Each service must feel others understand their challenges, and every tradition must be honoured as we build new systems together,” he said.

Each service possesses the capacity to respond independently; however, the interconnected nature of war makes collaborative strength the true guarantor of victory. The minister announced that work has begun on a joint logistics application, which will integrate the systems of the three services to provide shared visibility of stocks, optimise cross‑service resources and reduce redundant procurement.

Rajnath Singh said that in today’s security climate, compartmentalisation must give way to open sharing and collective learning. He warned that in critical domains such as aviation safety and cyber warfare, divergence in standards could prove disastrous. Even a minor error in inspection can create cascading effects. And if our cyber‑defence systems differ across services, adversaries can exploit the gap, he added.

The Bombay High Court ruled that the officers cannot face criminal proceedings after being tried under the Army Act.

T

the Bombay High Court ruled that the officers cannot face criminal proceedings after being tried under the Army Act. (File Photo)

The Mumbai High Court has quashed the prosecution sanction accorded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) against two Army officers of the rank of Lt Colonel in an eight-year-old case of the death of an Army officer’s child.

The judgement by the division bench in Goa, uploaded in public domain on September 25, quashed the prosecution sanction, granted under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), to prosecute Lt Col Umesh Kanadikar and Lt Col Gurinder Singh Uppal of the Corps of Engineers. They were to face trial before a criminal court in Goa under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, along with a few civilians.

The writ petitions filed by the two officers challenging their prosecution revolved around an incident on April 6, 2017, when a child aged four-and-a-half years, son of Lt Col Narendra R Taralkar and Surgeon Lt Commander Trishna Taralkar, fell from the 6th floor of the newly constructed Married Accommodation Project-II, at the naval officers’ accommodation in Goa.

The incident resulted in the filing of a case at the Vasco police station on the complaint filed by the headquarters of Goa naval area against Naresh Kumar Garg, chairman, and Pradeep Kumar Garg, managing director of NKG Infrastructure Ltd, New Delhi. They were accused of failure to take proper care and safety while constructing the said building, leading to the death of the minor boy falling from the sixth floor, along with the window grill, which was not properly fixed by screws to the wall.

Gitanjali J Angmo questions Ladakh police, speaks out on detention and curfew

Wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Gitanjali J Angmo, refuted the Ladakh Police’s claim that the activist was in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Gitanjali said that they attended a climate change conference organised by the United Nations and a Pakistani media outlet.

She said, ” This is absolutely wrong and false, we condemn it to the core. A narrative is being formed to frame someone…When the UT government was buying Chinese tablets, he (Wangchuk) was talking about tackling China not with bullets but with a wallet. How can such a person be anti-national?” “In February, we went to a conference organised by the UN and Dawn media on climate change. If India plays cricket with China, will the players and cricket bodies be anti-national? A conference on glaciers which provide water to all the countries from Bangladesh to Afghanistan… If a person participates in such a conference, will he be an ISI agent? What is the evidence behind it? They are saying a Pakistani entered here, so the MHA should answer.”

Replying to the DGP Ladakh’s allegations labelling Wangchuk as ‘anti-national’, Gitanjali asked if the government was awarding an anti-national when they awarded him for the solar-heated buildings and Ice Stupas.

“A person who works for the environment, for the army, who has dedicated his career to grassroots efforts for the youth, and has been recognised by the world–this very government, when RK Singh was energy minister, awarded HIAL the first prize for passive solar-heated buildings, which are currently used by the Army. Was this government blind before?” she asked.

“Do they not see that they are awarding someone who is anti-national? The Minister of Tribal Affairs awarded Ice Stupas–did they not realise that it was anti-national? How weak is their intelligence system?” Gitanjali added.

Gitanjali’s remarks came as Ladakh DGP Jamwal addressed a press conference, stating that the police had arrested a Pakistan PIO who was in touch with Wangchuk.

He said, “We arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was reporting back across. We have a record of this. He (Sonam Wanghchuk) had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan. He also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him…Investigation is being done.” She told ANI that Wangchuk only advocated for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which she said is important for democracy in the Union Territory.

Gitanjali said that the movement for statehood cannot be undermined as it has the support of the people of Ladakh.

She added, “It’s essential to acknowledge that not only does Sonam Wangchuk advocate for the Sixth Schedule, but the entire leadership supports him, as do all citizens of Ladakh and possibly the entire country. Because he is simply voicing the people’s wishes to the government… These individuals believe that by attacking their reputation from all angles, they can undermine this movement. However, this movement resides in everyone’s heart.”

“The Sixth Schedule is not anti-development. It doesn’t imply that the people won’t allow the government to do anything there. The Sixth Schedule simply states that democracy is important in any region, and that a fragile ecosystem or tribal area has its own ways; your development cannot be their development,” said Gitanjali.

Speaking about the climate activist’s detention amid the violence on September 24, she said: “I was at HIAL managing things and not physically present because he went to meet his family. The house was searched with 5-10 people inside, and about 100 police personnel were outside. I learned at 4 am from Inspector Rigzin that he was detained. They said it was detention, not arrest, and that once he lands in Jodhpur, ASP Shukla would call to explain our rights. Four days later, we haven’t received any call, detention order, or information about his condition…We’ve called and left messages, but he hasn’t responded, and we can’t go out due to curfew.”

Amid curfew and surveillance, she claimed that they are under a virtual house arrest, and HAIL staff and students were also kept under detention.

“Yesterday, CRPF followed you into our campus, is this democracy?… We’re virtually under house arrest; people are questioned when they come and go. Our staff and students were detained overnight, and others are being taken without reason. They aim to create fear in a peaceful area. Democracy is about dialogue, not oppression,” she said.

Meanwhile, the prohibitions under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, which were imposed in Leh following the violence on September 24, were lifted for three hours today, and people flocked to the markets to buy essential items. ANI