The arrest follows violent protests in Leh where four people died during demonstrations for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
Leh, Ladakh—Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by the Leh Police on Friday under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The action was taken days after the Union Territory witnessed severe violence during protests demanding special constitutional status for Ladakh.
The detention comes amid escalating tensions in Leh, where clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in the death of four people and left many injured earlier this week.
What is the charge?
Sources in the administration indicate that the NSA has been invoked against Mr. Wangchuk. The government has accused him of making “provocative” speeches that led to the mob violence and arson.
The National Security Act (NSA) is a powerful law that allows the government to detain a person for up to 12 months to prevent them from acting in any manner that harms national security or disrupts public order. Under this law, a person can be held without being immediately informed of the specific charges and without being produced before a court within 24 hours.
Context of the Movement
Mr. Wangchuk has been leading a peaceful movement demanding two main things for Ladakh: Statehood (full state status) and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The Sixth Schedule provides special protection to tribal areas to guard their land, resources, and cultural identity.
The recent protests began when two fellow hunger strikers collapsed and were hospitalized, leading large groups of youth to take to the streets in solidarity, which soon turned into clashes.
Opposing Views
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directly blamed Mr. Wangchuk for instigating the youth. This action follows the recent cancellation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of SECMOL, an organisation founded by Mr. Wangchuk, over alleged financial violations.
However, Mr. Wangchuk’s family and supporting groups have strongly denied the government’s claims. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, accused the authorities of treating her husband “like a criminal without any reason.” The Leh Apex Body (LAB), which spearheads the protest, stated that their movement is non-violent and that the clashes were triggered when a section of the youth got out of control, denying Mr. Wangchuk’s role in the violence.
Latest Update
Following the arrest, Mr. Wangchuk was reportedly shifted to undisclosed location. Mobile internet services were also suspended in the Leh area by the administration as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of information and further unrest.