The Ladakh DGP said that the police have decided to relax the curfew in Leh in a staggered manner: from 1 pm to 3 pm in the Old City, and from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm in the new area.
Sonam Wangchuk (Photo: ANI)
Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) by the police in connection with this week’s violent protests in Leh, was in touch with Pakistani elements, Directorate General of Police SD Singh Jamwal has claimed.
Speaking to the press on the September 24 violence in Leh, DGP Jamwal revealed that they had recently arrested a Pakistani PIO who was in touch with Wangchuk and was reporting back details of his conversations to Islamabad.
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“… We also arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was in touch with him (Sonam Wangchuk) and was reporting back across the border. We have a record of this. He had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan. He also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him… investigation is being done…,” the Ladakh DGP said.
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DGP Jamwal alleged that Wangchuk has an agenda of his own and he instigated people which led to the violence on Wednesday. He also confirmed that some Nepali citizens were injured in the clashes, but it has yet to be established whether they were involved in the violence.
“This is a matter of investigation. But on the first day when the injured were shifted, there were 2-3 Nepalis with bullet injuries admitted to the hospital. After their verification, 2-3 more such elements have come out. Three were confirmed to be Nepali nationals and were admitted in hospital,” the DGP said addressing a question on involvement of foreign nationals in the violence that took place during protests to demand statehood and Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.
Sonam Wangchuk moved to Jodhpur jail in wake of ‘larger public interest’
The DGP, however, added that while action will be taken as per law, the police will not file cases against Nepali citizens or arrest them who were present in Leh but are innocent. “Whether they were a part as a design, I cannot say because this place also has a history of many Nepalis coming in and working as labourers. So, we have to investigate that.”
#WATCH | Leh: Speaking on the 24th Sept violence, Ladakh DGP Dr. S.D Singh Jamwal says, “…We also arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was in touch with him (Sonam Wangchuk) and reporting back across. We have a record of this. He had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan.… pic.x.com/q4YnhyrQlE
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2025
Speaking on the violence that took place on Wednesday, the top police official said had CRPF not been deployed in Leh on that day, the entire town could have been “engulfed in fire”.
“An unprecedented situation occurred here in Ladakh, resulting in significant violence and damage, leading to four deaths. Several paramilitary personnel and civilians were also injured,” he told the media. “The protest happened because of the anti-social elements who attacked the police deployment and it was a massive attack – a lot of arson, stone pelting. Many people got injured…,” he added.
The DGO, however, expressed confidence that the situation in Leh will become normal. “…It is just one-off incident, I think Ladakh will again revive and it will have the same culture and hospitality for the people.”
DGP Jamwal further said that the police have decided to relax the curfew in Leh in a staggered manner: from 1 pm to 3 pm in the Old City, and from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm in the new area.
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