Curfew remains in force for 5th day in Leh town

Wangchuk's wife denies Pak link, calls NSA detention misplaced

- MPOST BUREAU

Curfew continued for the fifth consecutive day in Leh on Sunday, as authorities maintained strict restrictions in the violence-hit town following deadly clashes last week.

The wife of detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Gitanjali Angmo, dismissed allegations of inciting the unrest, calling claims of Pakistan links and financial irregularities "misplaced".

"Sonam has been protesting in the most Gandhian way possible. The situation escalated due to the actions of the CRPF on September 24," Angmo said, adding that she has not been able to communicate with her husband since his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) and that they have not yet received a copy of the detention order.

"We will take legal recourse," she said. The curfew, imposed on Wednesday evening, followed violent protests during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding statehood for Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule to the Union Territory. The unrest left four dead and scores injured, with over 50 people taken into custody for alleged rioting, Wangchuk, a prominent fig ure in the five-year-long agitation for Ladakh's rights, was detained on Friday and lodged in Jodhpur jail, Rajasthan.