Ladakhi innovator Sonam Wangchuk on 5-day hunger-strike; claims he was placed under house arrest, police deny

Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent engineer whose life inspired a character in Bollywood blockbuster “3 Idiots”, has claimed that he was placed under house arrest at his institute here, a charge denied by the police which said he was only prevented from observing a five-day-long fast at Khardung La top.

The Ladakh-based innovator had announced a five-day long hunger strike at 18,380 feet high Khardung La from January 26 to invite attention of the BJP-led Centre to the demands of the people of Ladakh, including extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion.

Barring BJP, almost all major political parties, social and religious groups and student organisations have come together in both Leh and Kargil districts in support of the demands, including statehood and constitutional safeguards after the region was given a Union Territory status in August 2019 after being carved out of J&K.