Key Points
- Prominent Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by Leh police on Friday, September 26, 2025.
- The arrest follows violent protests in Leh on Wednesday that left four people dead and over 80 injured, including police personnel.
- The Union Home Ministry has accused Wangchuk of making “inflammatory statements” that incited the mob to violence and arson.
- The unrest is linked to the long-standing demand for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Wangchuk’s arrest comes a day after the government cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of his NGO.
Leh: Prominent activist and Magsaysay award winner Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by Leh police on Friday and taken to an undisclosed location. The arrest follows the most severe violence the region has seen in decades, where protests for statehood spiraled into deadly clashes on Wednesday. The unrest resulted in the deaths of four people and left at least 80 others injured, including about 40 police officers.
Government Blames “Inflammatory” Rhetoric
The Union Home Ministry has squarely blamed the violence on “inflammatory statements” made by Wangchuk and other protest leaders. In a statement issued on the night of September 24, the ministry alleged that references to “Arab Spring-style” protests and incitement of youth by “politically motivated” individuals derailed the ongoing dialogue with the central government. The government claims these speeches provoked a mob, leading to widespread arson and violence, which included the torching of a local BJP office and a paramilitary vehicle.
In response to the accusations, Wangchuk has maintained that he consistently called for peace and that the government is attempting to scapegoat him for the widespread frustration among Ladakh’s youth.
The Spark for the Violence
The immediate trigger for the violent turn in the otherwise peaceful four-year movement was the hospitalization of two elderly activists who had been on a hunger strike for 35 days. Their deteriorating health ignited fury among young protesters, leading to a shutdown call in Leh. The situation escalated rapidly, resulting in clashes where security forces used tear gas, baton charges, and eventually opened fire to control the crowd. A curfew was subsequently imposed in Leh, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was deployed to restore order.
Crackdown on Activist and NGO
Wangchuk’s arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) is part of a broader crackdown. On Thursday, the Home Ministry cancelled the FCRA license of his educational NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing alleged violations of foreign funding laws. Authorities are also investigating another of his organizations for alleged financial irregularities.
The protests, jointly led by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), seek full statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its unique tribal culture and ecology, and increased parliamentary representation. The recent violence marks a tragic turning point in their long-standing dialogue with the central government.
