Investigative agencies could probe the role of Gitanjali Angmo, Ladakh climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, for alleged irregularities in Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL), sources told News18.
The sources said all those who are involved with the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives along with some other will be probed.
The sources pointed out that the Ladakh administration alleged HIAL of jeopardising the future of the youth by issuing degrees despite not being registered university.
The Ladakh administration also rejected claims of a “witch-hunt" or a “smoke-screen" operation against Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday.
The administration asserted that the actions taken by law enforcement agencies were based on credible inputs and documents. It appealed that the process of law should be allowed to take its own course and expressed confidence that “together we will bring back normalcy in the peace-loving Leh township and continue with our dialogue process".
Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act last week.
He is the primary face of the agitation seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards for Ladakh, was detained under the stringent act following the violent clashes between protesters and security personnel on September 24.
Talks between the Centre and representatives from Ladakh have hit a roadblock with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) backing the Leh Apex Body’s (LAB) decision to suspend dialogue until Wangchuk and others were released.
Gitanjali Angmo, who is the co-founder of the HIAL, has alleged that a “witch-hunt" was underway to project her husband as an “anti-national." She claimed there was “no need to impose the NSA on Sonam Wangchuk" and asserted that authorities have not provided her with formal documents detailing the charges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Public Relations said, “The administration of UT of Ladakh would like to clarify a few issues in the background of a series of press conferences and media statements given by certain sections.
“There have been reports in the media of baseless allegations of victimisation of certain individuals, including Wangchuk, by government agencies. There is no question of witch-hunting or smoke screen," it said.
