NEW DELHI :
CLIMATE activist Sonam
Wangchuk and 150 other protesters from Ladakh who are
underdetentiononWednesday
continued theirindefinite fast,
saying they find their rights
“trampled upon” on Gandhi
Jayanti, a day that symbolises
peace and democracy.
Wangchukwasleading‘Delhi
Chalo Padyatra’, which began
from Leh a month ago. They
were detained on Monday
night.Ina statementissued on
Wednesday morning, Jigmat
Paljor,CoordinatorApexBody,
said their detention, which is
continuing for over 24 hours,
is illegal.
“We,the‘padyatris’,findourselvesin an alarmingsituation.
Wehavebeendetained forover
24 hours.This detentionisillegal, as the 24-hour period has
elapsed, and we must be produced beforeamagistrate,”
Paljor said.
“Some groups have been
released after just under 24
hours, only to be returned to
the police station. Last night,
thepoliceattempted toforcibly
relocateus toanunknownlocation, but we stood our ground
in resistance,” he added.
“Our phones have been confiscated at the Bawana Police
Station, leaving us cut off from
the outside world,” Paljor said
in the statement.
Delhi Police, however, said
that the ‘padyatris’ were
released last night and detained
again.
Wangchuk and other
detained Ladakhis were
allowed to go onTuesdaynight
but they were adamant to
march towards thecentralpart
of Delhi, therefore, they were
detained again, a senior police
officer told PTI.
The ‘padyatris’, who started
from Leh on September 1,
marched all the way, except
upon entering poll bound
Haryana where they boarded
buses. They were detained at
Delhi’s Singhu border on
Mondaynight and taken todifferent police stations, where
they started an indefinite fast.