'It exposes authoritarian character of Centre': CPI-M condemns Wangchuk's detention
New Delh (PTI): The CPI(M) on Saturday strongly condemned the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) and demanded that he should be released.
In a statement issued here, the Politburo of the CPI(M) said Wangchuk's detention under the "draconian NSA exposes the authoritarian character of the BJP-led central government".
"The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk, who has been at the forefront of the movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution," the party said.
"His detention under the draconian National Security Act exposes the authoritarian character of the BJP-led central government and its contempt for the genuine aspirations of the people of Ladakh," it said.
The Left party said instead of honouring the promises it made to the people of Ladakh, the government has chosen to resort to "repressive measures to suppress the democratic movement" there.
"This constitutes a grave attack on the fundamental rights and democratic freedoms of the people of Ladakh. Such actions will only deepen the alienation of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, including Ladakh," the statement said.
"The CPI(M) demands the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, the unconditional withdrawal of all cases foisted on the people, full protection of democratic and constitutional rights, the prompt acceptance of the movement's just demands, and above all Ladakh's inclusion under the Sixth Schedule," it said.
Police arrested Wangchuk on Friday, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory.
Ladakh Director General of Police S D Singh Jamwal on Saturday said Wangchuk is being probed for allegedly having links with Pakistan on the back of last month's arrest of a Pakistani intelligence operative who sent videos of his protests across the border.
Jamwal described Wangchuk as the key person behind Wednesday's violence.
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Man abducted, assaulted, forced to drink urine in Ajmer; nine arrested
Jaipur (PTI): Nine persons, including a woman, have been arrested for allegedly abducting a man and subjecting him to torture in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday in Gagwana village under the Gegal police station area and was allegedly linked to an ongoing dispute, they said.
According to police, a marriage between a woman and a man from Beer village, had ended in divorce following which she had been living at her parental home. About five months ago, the victim, identified as Jeetu (21), married the woman.
The woman's former in-laws allegedly objected to this marriage, claiming that the issue had not been settled in accordance with community norms, and that the dispute had been ongoing.
Following this, Jeetu was allegedly abducted on Saturday, held captive, and assaulted by the woman's former in-law's. He was allegedly forced to wear a garland of shoes and slippers and made to drink urine, police said.
A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, triggering outrage in the area.
Following the circulation of the video, Jeetu's family staged a protest at the Gegal police station, alleging delay in police action.
Rural Circle Officer Ramchandra Chaudhary reached the spot and assured the family of prompt action. A case was registered on Saturday evening and teams were formed to trace the accused.
Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala said nine accused, including a woman, have been arrested and the vehicles used in the crime seized.
Efforts are underway to apprehend the other absconding accused, police said.
