Sonam Wangchuk says will stay behind bars until judicial probe into Ladakh killings: Lawyer
Leh protest update, Sonam Wangchuk jail news: Sonam Wangchuk’s message comes amid continuing tension in Leh, where police firing killed four people last month during violent protests demanding Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh.
Wangchuk was detained under the NSA last month with the governmentblaming him for instigating the crowd. (PTI Photo) 
Sonam Wangchuk jail news: Activist Sonam Wangchuk, detained under the NSA at Jodhpur Central Jail, has stated that he is prepared to remain in custody until an independent judicial inquiry is ordered into the killing of four people in police firing during the Ladakh protests, his lawyer said Sunday.
Wangchuk had been spearheading the movement seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh. His lawyer, Mustafa Haji, visited him on Saturday along with his elder brother, Ka Tsetan Dorjey Ley. They gifted him two books — [In]complete Justice? The Supreme Court at 75 by Justice (retired) S Muralidhar and Why The Poor Don’t Kill Us by Manu Joseph.
“I am doing well, both physically and mentally and thank everyone for their concern and prayers,” Wangchuk said in his message put out by Haji. “My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested.”
He said: “There should be an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of our four people and unless that is done I am prepared to stay in jail.”
The statement by the Apex Body Leh (ABL) member comes amid the tension in Leh, where violence flared late last month. The Union government accuses Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike, of instigating the violence.
On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife Gitanjali Angmo. Sources said Angmo has not been granted access to Wangchuk and has not been able to speak to him since his detention on September 26.
In his statement, the activist also reiterated his support for the ABL and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in their longstanding demands for Sixth Schedule status and full statehood for Ladakh.
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“Whatever actions Apex Body takes in the interest of Ladakh, I am with them wholeheartedly,” he said, urging people to “keep peace and unity and continue with our struggle peacefully — in the true Gandhian way of non-violence.”
The ABL and KDA were the two organisations negotiating with the government on Ladakh matters. Both pulled out after Wangchuk’s detention.
Sources said Wangchuk’s lawyer and brother were allowed to meet him for 40 minutes each. While the lawyer is learnt to have discussed the case against him and the legal remedies available, his brother enquired about his well being and shared details about his family.
“He is okay in jail. He has not complained of any ill treatment and is in good health. He had asked for some shoes and clothes which have been delivered to him. A couple of books too have been given as he likes reading. He said he is more concerned about the people of Ladakh at the moment than about himself,” said a source close to the family.
The Ladakh Police claimed that Wangchuk had links to Pakistan. The Home Ministry, meanwhile, cancelled his NGO’s foreign funding license. A CBI inquiry is also pending against him. Wangchuk’s detention has drawn widespread criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.
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