New Delhi/Leh, Sep 26: Prominent Ladakh statehood activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested today under the National Security Act (NSA), sources said.
The NSA allows authorities to detain individuals preventively for extended periods without the possibility of bail.
Wangchuk's arrest follows allegations that he incited violence through provocative statements, which officials claim led to recent unrest in Leh. The violence, which occurred two days ago, resulted in four deaths and injuries to over 50 people, including security personnel.
A day before his arrest, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also cancelled the foreign funding license of Wangchuk’s non-profit, the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.
Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient (2018), has denied the allegations made by the Centre and the Ladakh administration. He had been on a two-week hunger strike demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The strike was called off after Wednesday’s clashes, which prompted authorities to impose a curfew in Leh.
Government officials have since accused Wangchuk of inciting the protests, citing his alleged references to the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen Z protests. The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed these statements contributed to the mob violence that led to the torching of the local BJP office and several government vehicles.
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