Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters, who were detained by police when they reached Delhi on Monday night to demand Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory, have gone on a hunger strike.

Mehdi Shah, who has been held along with Wangchuk at Bawana police station, told The Telegraph over the phone: “We are now kept in a congested hall. It was difficult to sleep last night on a carpet with pigeon droppings under the open sky. Neither have we been informed of the charges we are held for, nor have we been allowed to meet anyone, including lawyers. We have stopped taking food since this (Tuesday) morning. Those held in other police stations are doing the same.”

The Delhi police are yet to formally speak on the matter. Police commissioner Sanjay Arora had imposed prohibitory orders in three districts of the capital on Monday before Wangchuk and his supporters could arrive for a two-day programme that included a visit to Rajghat and a demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

Sources said at least 120 people were detained along with Wangchuk and that prohibitory orders were imposed to prevent the agitation from expanding in the capital with the Opposition’s support.

Shah said Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa was also detained upon his arrival at Singhu on the Haryana-Delhi border on Tuesday afternoon and was taken to Narela police station.

Before being detained, Haneefa told reporters: “For the last three years, we have been raising our concerns in a very peaceful manner... several rounds of discussions were also held with the government... we hoped that the talks would continue after the formation of the new government but it did not happen.”

He added: “We set out on foot from Leh under the banner of the Kargil Democratic Alliance and the (Ladakh) Apex Body with the hope that we would present our views to the central government in the national capital and our concerns would be heard. But unfortunately, Sonam Wangchuk and his team were detained yesterday.... We urge the government to provide us a place from where we can submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or hold talks with the leadership to resolve this issue.”

Advocate Mustafa Haji has moved Delhi High Court for the release of all the detainees. The case is expected to be heard on October 3.

Delhi chief minister Atishi was prevented from meeting Wangchuk at Bawana police station.

“The police did not allow me to meet Sonam Wangchuk. This is sheer dictatorship by the BJP. We fully support Sonam Wangchuk. LG (lieutenant governor) rule should end in Ladakh and similarly, LG rule should end in Delhi as well,” she told reporters outside the police station.

The AAP government termed the prohibitory orders a “Tughlaqi firman” of lieutenant governor V.K. Saxena during the festive season.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “The detention of Sonam Wangchukji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable. Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modiji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice.”

Samajwadi Party president and MP Akhilesh Yadav posted on X: “The BJP government cannot achieve anything by obstructing the peaceful Delhi visit of environmentalist and Ladakh well-wisher Sonam Wangchukji.”

Ladakh witnessed a bandh on Tuesday in protest against the police action in Delhi.