More than a hundred protestors from Ladakh, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, were detained by police at the Delhi-Haryana during a march from Leh to Delhi to demand constitutional safeguards for the region. The march started in 1 September and was to culminate at Rajghat on 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convenor of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), an influential civil society organisation, told The Hindu that he was “shocked” by the treatment meted out to peaceful protestors, including 80-year old men and women, who have been walking since September 1, traversing rocky and hilly terrain.

“Our people are not used to walking in such heat, they have blisters on their feet. As they approached Delhi on Monday, they were detained and taken to a police station and made to sleep on the floor,” said Mr. Lakruk, a former member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said that the Ladakhis would intensify their protests and demanded that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) resume dialogue with the high-powered committee that was set up in 2023 to address their grievances.