Srinagar, March 15, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the arrest of Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) was wrong and expressed hope that the situation in Ladakh would improve following his release.
Omar Abdullah made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Badam Vaer almond garden in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister said Wangchuk should not have been arrested in the first place and that invoking the NSA against him was unnecessary.
“It was wrong at the first hand to arrest Sonam Wangchuk. He should never have been arrested,” Omar Abdullah told reporters.
The remarks come after the Union Government revoked Wangchuk’s preventive detention under the National Security Act.
Abdullah welcomed the decision and said it was good that the activist had been released.
“It was wrong to arrest Sonam Wangchuk and that too under the NSA, and now it is good that he has been released,” he said.
The Chief Minister also expressed hope that the situation in Ladakh would remain peaceful and that dialogue would help address issues raised by people in the region.
“We hope there will be peace in Ladakh and that the promises made by the Centre to us and to the people of Ladakh will be fulfilled,” he said.
Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer and environmental activist from Ladakh, had been detained last year under the National Security Act following protests in the region.
The decision to revoke his detention was announced recently by the central government, which said the move was aimed at creating conditions conducive to dialogue and restoring peace in Ladakh. [KNT]
