Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday. He has long campaigned for statehood for Ladakh. The arrest followed violent protests in Leh, which claimed four lives.

Subsequently, Wangchuk was shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan. After completing formalities at Leh airport, he was flown on a special flight and escorted in a high-security convoy. Officials completed his medical check-up, and he is now held under 24-hour CCTV surveillance in a high-security ward.

Allegations of Inciting Violence

Authorities accused Wangchuk of inciting unrest while demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. Meanwhile, over 70 people were injured during the clashes, which started as a peaceful shutdown.

As a result, the administration imposed a curfew in Leh. Wangchuk ended his two-week hunger strike, yet he continued to press for his demands.

According to the government, Wangchuk’s “provocative statements” and actions by politically motivated groups fueled the unrest. In addition, his references to the Arab Spring and Nepal Gen Z protests allegedly sparked violence, leading to the torching of the local BJP office and government vehicles.

The Ministry of Home Affairs stated, "On 24th September, at around 11.30 am, a mob instigated by his provocative speeches left the venue of the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as the government office of the CEC Leh."

Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike and Activism

Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike on September 10 to demand constitutional guarantees, autonomy, statehood, and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.

Meanwhile, the government maintained dialogue channels with local bodies like the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through committees and informal meetings.

As a result, some progress had already been made:

• Scheduled Tribe reservations in Ladakh rose from 45% to 84%.

• One-third representation for women in local councils.

• Bhoti and Purgi recognized as official languages.

• Recruitment for around 1,800 government posts had begun.

SECMOL FCRA License Cancelled

Additionally, the government cancelled SECMOL’s FCRA licence, citing violations linked to the violence.

However, Wangchuk denied all allegations, calling them a “scapegoat tactic”. He said, "To say it was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere. They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat, but they are not wise. At this time, we all need wisdom rather than ‘cleverness’ because people are already frustrated."

SECMOL had permission under FCRA to receive foreign funds for cultural and educational programs.

Arrest Condemned as Witchhunt

Meanwhile, the CPI (ML) Liberation condemned Wangchuk’s arrest, calling it a government witchhunt.

"In an outrageous move, the Ladakh Union Territory administration, under the control of the Modi regime, has arrested prominent climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on September 26. CPI(ML) Liberation strongly condemns this arrest, which clearly exposes the government’s witch-hunting agenda and its attempt to shift blame for a crisis born of the government’s own betrayal of people’s democratic aspirations and trampling of the Constitution."

Furthermore, the party criticized the abrogation of Article 370, claiming it tightened authoritarian control and allowed corporate exploitation of Ladakh’s resources. They demanded Wangchuk’s immediate release and an end to repressive acts.

Ladakh Statehood Protest

The unrest took place during protests organized by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB). They demand statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion.

Ladakh became a Union Territory after Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019. While locals welcomed UT status, they now push for full statehood.

The shutdown followed after two hunger strikers’ health worsened. Consequently, Wangchuk ended his 15-day fast but urged supporters to avoid violence. He said “Gen Z’s frenzy” disrupted the peace process.

Tensions escalated when some protesters pelted stones at security forces, prompting police action. Protesters also burned a security vehicle outside the BJP office. Authorities deployed additional forces to restore order.

Next Round of Talks

Finally, the government scheduled a new round of talks with Ladakh representatives, including LAB and KDA members, for October 6.