In a dramatic escalation of Ladakh's ongoing push for greater autonomy, renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was has been arrested by police on Friday, booked under the stringent provisions of the National Security Act (NSA). The move, which allows for extended preventive custody without immediate bail options, comes just two days after deadly clashes during protests in Leh that left four people dead and dozens injured, intensifying fears of further unrest in the sensitive border region.
Wangchuk, 58, a Padma Shri awardee celebrated for his innovative educational initiatives and environmental advocacy, was apprehended shortly before a planned media briefing in Leh. Sources indicate he has been transported to an undisclosed site, potentially outside Ladakh. The arrest follows the sudden revocation of his non-profit organisation's foreign funding license on Thursday, amid allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of resources. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had blamed Wangchuk for mob incitement that led to violence on Wednesday. “I am happy to get arrested for the cause”, Wangchuk had said in an interview to a channel on Thursday, reiterating the demand for inclusion of Ladakh under sixth schedule. Tensions erupted at Leh's Martyrs' Ground on Wednesday, where thousands gathered in a region-wide shutdown to demand full statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution - provisions aimed at protecting tribal lands and cultures.
What began as a peaceful show of solidarity spiralled into violence after reports emerged of two elderly hunger strikers being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, sparking outrage among young participants. Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces, resulting in four fatalities, over 80 injuries, including to police officers and widespread property damage, such as torched vehicles and assaults on government buildings, including a local BJP party office.
Authorities have pointed to Wangchuk's recent public addresses as a catalyst, claiming his references to global youth uprisings, such as those in Nepal and the Arab Spring, fuelled the mob's aggression. The Union Home Ministry, in justifying the NGO license cancellation under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, cited irregularities like improper fund transfers, unapproved remittances exceeding crores of rupees, and channeling resources toward activities perceived as challenging national integrity. Probes by the Central Bureau of Investigation and income tax officials are underway into these claims, which involve multiple bank accounts and corporate donations.
In response to the unrest, a curfew remains in effect across Leh, and mobile internet services have been temporarily suspended to curb the spread of inflammatory content. Government spokespersons emphasised prior concessions to the region's demands, including hiking Scheduled Tribe job quotas to 84 percent, mandating one-third female representation in village councils, and officially recognising local languages like Bhoti and Purgi. They described ongoing dialogues with groups such as the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance as productive, urging protesters to return to the negotiation table rather than the streets.
Wangchuk, who spearheaded a 35-day fast starting September 10 to highlight ecological threats and governance gaps in the fragile Himalayan territory, ended his fast after the violence broke out. Prior to his detention, he rejected accusations of provocation, framing the government's response as a diversion from Ladakh's legitimate grievances over lost protections following the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
