Sonam Wangchuk claims house arrest ahead of protest

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday claimed that he had been placed under house arrest by the police ahead of planned protests against the upcoming council polls.

The authorities did not provide any explanation, Wangchuk said.

The activist alleged that his movement was being restricted “for asking uncomfortable questions” such as why the judicial enquiry commission’s report into the deaths during a protest in Leh in September 2025 had been delayed and why the “phoney” council polls were being “foisted on people with rocket speed in mid winter”.

The police said that Wangchuk had been “advised to stay” at home in line with the prohibitory orders issued by the chief electoral officer in the Union Territory and the Leh district magistrate ahead of the local elections.

Panchayat and municipal elections will be held in Ladakh on November 21. Elections for the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils will be held on December 4.

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 &… pic.twitter.com/c48SMwXTrN— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) November 12, 2026

In a letter to the police and the administrative authorities on Thursday, Wangchuk...

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