Key Points

"It is very unfortunate; it should not have happened. Ladakh has been the most patriotic region. Such behaviour with them is wrong. Either the promises made to them should not have been made in the first place, or those promises should have been met," Wani told ANI.

Advocating for the fulfilment of promises made to Ladakhis, Wani further stated that the restoration of statehood was also promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which is not being fulfilled either. Wani argued that these issues must be resolved through dialogue.

"Similarly, restoration of statehood was promised to Jammu and Kashmir. But that is also not being done. We hope the Government of India will go ahead with thinking this through. They should resolve issues through dialogue. Those who were presented as superstars a while ago are being called traitors today. This is not acceptable," he added.

Earlier, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Friday chaired a high-level security review meeting in Leh to take stock of the prevailing situation in Ladakh.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Pawan Kotwal, Director General of Police Dr SD Singh Jamwal, DIG Srinagar South PK Singh, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Senior Superintendent of Police Leh, Sanjay Kumar, CO 79, Rajat Jain, CO 25, and other senior officials.

The officials briefed the Lt Governor on the overall law and order scenario and reported that the day remained peaceful across the Union Territory. The officers informed that peace and normalcy have been effectively restored with the wholehearted cooperation of the people.

The Lt Governor appreciated the exemplary restraint and sense of responsibility shown by the citizens during the recent relaxations in restrictions, terming their role crucial in maintaining stability.

He assured that the UT administration remains committed to safeguarding the rights of citizens, working tirelessly to protect their aspirations for growth and harmony.

He emphasised that peace and development must go hand in hand for building a prosperous Ladakh.

The violence on September 24 claimed the lives of four people amid police retaliation, after the protestors set the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) office on fire. The protests were a result of people demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, which turned into clashes with the police officials in Leh.

Meanwhile, things have escalated after the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, with senior Congress leaders opposing his arrest. The opposition party has asked the centre to hold talks with the people of Ladakh regarding their demands for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had urged the Centre to hold talks with the people of Ladakh, calling on the government to "engage in dialogue and stop the politics of violence and fear," as he demanded a fair judicial inquiry into the recent violence in Leh that claimed four lives.

Gitanjali Angmo, Wangchuk's wife, on Friday approached the Supreme Court seeking her husband's release.

Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and was shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan for allegedly inciting violent protests in Ladakh. Four people were killed in the Leh unrest, and 80 others were injured.

In a post on social media X, Wangchuk's wife wrote that she had no information about his health or the grounds of his detention.

- ANI