Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and was subsequently arrested in Leh, after he was blamed for the violent protests that broke out on September 26. The protests have been taking place seeking statehood and protection for Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He has been imprisoned in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
The Pakistan connection
Wangchuk, who has been at the forefront advocating for the statehood of Ladakh, was arrested for his alleged links with Pakistan. At a press conference on 27 September, Ladakh's Director General of Police, SD Singh Jamwal, questioned Wangchuk's earlier visit to Pakistan.
Jamwal said that Wangchuk attended a conference hosted by the newspaper Dawn. He further said that the activist was also in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence Office, who was recently arrested. The top cop further claimed that the Pakistani officer was reporting back to his superiors in Pakistan about the Ladakh protests.
The Leh police also accused Wangchuk of instigating violence in the landlocked region after protests spiralled out of control. Four people were killed and over 50 were injured after police opened fire on the demonstrators.
Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife, alleged ‘witch hunt’ against her husband. She called the charges against Wangchuk ‘misplaced’ and said that his overseas trip to Pakistan was professional in nature. She added that Wangchuk supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to abrogate Article 370 , which led to the creation of Ladakh as a union territory, along with Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, four months after Article 370 was revoked, the activist had hailed the move in a video statement.
However, over time, Wangchuk's criticism of the central government has grown. He intensified his demand for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.
The Sixth Schedule ensured the administration of tribal areas through an autonomous governance structure.
As the government delayed the statehood for Ladakh, questions were raised about the government's intentions to grant statehood to the region.
Hunger strikes
To exert public pressure on the government, Wangchuk, in 2023, had announced a 5-day fast at Khardung La. But he was stopped by the police, forcing him to protest in Leh instead.
In 2024, he launched another hunger strike for 16 days. But he ended the protest after the Union government agreed to hold talks on the statehood issue.
As Wangchuk pressed on the central government to fulfil its promise, he launched another 35-day hunger strike on September 18th.
But it ended up in violence, and Wangchuk ended the strike in a bid to de-escalate the tension.
The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that Wangchu's speech incited violence. The Central government also cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license of his non-profit organisation, Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), last week due to alleged violations.
