Activist Sonam Wangchuk Alleges House Arrest, Questions Winter Polls

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday claimed that he had been placed a 60-day under house arrest by the police ahead of planned protests against the upcoming council polls.

An order by the Additional District Magistrate of Leh was issued a day after Wangchuck was removed from a protest site in Leh amid protests by Ladakhi groups opposing the government's decision to hold Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections on December 4. 

The administration has cited a police report and a letter by the senior superintendent of police Leh requesting to issue preventive orders and imposition of restriction orders upon Sonum Wangchuk. 

"I, Additional District Magistrate, Leh, hereby impose restrictions on Sonam Wangchuk on his movement and to refrain from engaging in any activity, organising or participating in any unauthorised rally, procession or public gathering or conduct that is likely to cause a breach of public peace, disturbance of public tranquillity or obstruction to the peaceful conduct of the ongoing electoral processes within the territorial jurisdiction of District Leh,'' reads the order.

The magistrate has invoked section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to impose restrictions on Wangchuk's movement. 

"This order shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of 60 days,'' reads the order. 

The restriction order has come weeks ahead of the hill council elections.

Wangchuk and other local leaders have opposed the timing of the polls, arguing that winter conditions and seasonal migration will disenfranchise many voters in Ladakh.

Hours before the formal restoration order against Sonam Wangchuk, the climate activist said that he was put under house arrest and dozens of cops have surrounded his home. 

"I AM UNDER HOUSE ARREST. Dozens of armed guards surround my house while the government version says 'I have been advised to stay at home'.  All for asking uncomfortable questions like... why is the Judicial Enquiry Commission Report (of  last year's killings in Leh) is delayed & a phoney Council election is foisted on people with rocket speed in mid winter. Whole of Ladakh is in protest. My X, Instagram & YouTube reach have been drastically suppressed in the world's largest democracy. Please help share this message,'' he posted on X.

I AM UNDER HOUSE ARREST Dozens of armed guards surround my house while the government version says 'I have been advised to stay at home'. All for asking uncomfortable questions like... why is the Judicial Enquiry Commission Report (of last year's killings in Leh) is delayed & a phoney Council election is foisted on people with rocket speed in mid winter. Whole of Ladakh is in protest. My X, Instagram & YouTube reach have been drastically suppressed in the world's largest democracy. Please help share this message...

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) November 12, 2026

The Ladakh administration will conduct first major electoral exercise after the region was carved out as a separate union territory in 2019. 

The elections to all eight Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) are scheduled to be held on December 4 amid boycott calls and protests against holding polls in winter. 

The eight councils will have 100 constituencies, including 36 seats reserved for women.

The polls are being held against the backdrop of a prolonged agitation in Leh and Kargil, with political and civil society groups demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.

According  to Ashish Kundra, Chief Secretary of Ladakh, the number of constituencies have been increased from 26 each in the erstwhile Leh and Kargil districts to 50 each, taking the total to 100 following the creation of eight districts.

Defending the decision to conduct elections during the winter months, Kundra said the administration would make adequate arrangements to ensure that weather conditions do not discourage voters from exercising their franchise.

Polling stations will be equipped with heaters, while separate queues will be arranged for elderly voters. Deputy Commissioners have been directed to ensure necessary facilities at polling stations, he said. 

"Schools in Ladakh generally remain open until December 15 or 16. If children can attend schools during this period, there should be no difficulty for adults in coming out to vote," Kundra said.

He also underlined the need for constituting the councils without further delay, pointing out that the newly elected bodies would have January, February and March to prepare their budgets for the next financial year.

On the powers of the restructured councils, the Chief Secretary clarified that the newly elected LAHDCs would retain their existing statutory powers while also exercising additional functions envisaged for district-level Panchayati institutions under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.

Kundra said the delimitation exercise had been undertaken in accordance with district population and the notified LAHDC rules. Under these rules, a Panchayat Halqa or municipal ward cannot be split to constitute a constituency, although two or more Panchayats can be clubbed together.

The administration is also examining the possibility of conducting counting for the Hill Council, municipal and Panchayat elections simultaneously. Kundra said a recommendation would be made to ensure that the outcome of one election does not influence the other.

Meanwhile, the electoral process for Panchayat and municipal bodies is also underway. Ladakh has 192 Panchayats, of which 55 Sarpanches have already been elected unopposed and issued certificates of election. Polling will take place for the remaining 137 Sarpanch positions. Several candidates have also been elected unopposed to Panch seats, while elections will be held for the remaining contested positions.

In the municipal elections, Leh has 21 wards with 42 candidates in the fray. The Kargil Municipal Council has 17 wards, with candidates in four wards already declared elected unopposed.

"Panchayat elections have not been held for the last three years. Now, the Panchayats as well as the eight new district councils are going to be constituted," Kundra said. 

Several political and civil society organisations of Ladakh have questioned the decision to hold elections during the harsh winter months and raised objections to the delimitation exercise.

Political, social and cultural groups of Ladakh are demanding postponement of these polls.  On Tuesday, a compete shutdown was observed in Kargil  in protest against the electoral schedule. The Ladakh Buddhist Association in Leh has announced a boycott of the Panchayat and municipal elections.

The administration, however said that  the timely constitution of elected bodies is necessary for strengthening grassroots governance and ensuring that the newly created districts have functioning democratic institutions.