Delhi Police’s detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk – at the Singhu border Monday night, while his supporters and he were marching to the national capital – has led to tension in the Union Territory of Ladakh, where he is leading a fight to safeguard the local ecology.
This morning nearly two dozen protesters mounted crude blockades – including sticks mounted across upturned traffic cones – on National Highway 1, about six km from the town of Fiang.
The blockades have reportedly trapped tourists, including those from abroad. The situation in-between these blockades is understood to be tense but calm, for now. Visuals show at least protesters gathered behind a blockade, with about 100 cars and 50 trucks parked behind them.
“We are stuck on NH1 (due to protests) by supporters of the activist Sonam Wangchuk… they have placed various blockades on the highway. They are not letting anyone pass… around 200-300 people stuck,” Phillipe Geelhand, a tourist stuck on the highway said.
eelhand said a group of 20-30 foreign tourists, who had visited the monastery in Fiang this morning, had to walk back to Leh, which is about 15 km away, because the vehicles were not allowed to pass. The tourists also had to leave some of their bags and belongings in the cars.