Sonam Wangchuk detained under NSA, flown to Jodhpur jail amid Ladakh unrest

In a dramatic escalation of tensions in Ladakh, renowned climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26 and flown from Leh to a high-security jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The move comes days after violent protests in Leh left four dead and over 50 injured in police firing, prompting allegations of state repression and betrayal of promises made to the region.

Wangchuk, who has been at the forefront of the demand for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, was picked up from his village in Uleytokpo and held without public confirmation until his wife revealed his transfer to Jodhpur.

His detention has sparked a political firestorm and further galvanized protests across Ladakh, which is now under tight security and curfew.

“Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than a free Sonam Wangchuk,” the activist had warned a day earlier, anticipating his arrest.

The Centre has accused Wangchuk of instigating the September 25 protests, during which the BJP office in Leh was torched, and has launched a multi-agency crackdown on his initiatives.

His NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), lost its FCRA license on September 25, while the CBI has begun probing the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), another of Wangchuk’s ventures, for alleged financial irregularities.

From hunger strike to crackdown

Wangchuk, a key member of the Apex Body of Leh (ABL) — the group spearheading negotiations with the Centre — had recently ended a hunger strike after calling for peace amid escalating tensions. He was scheduled to join a press conference via Zoom on September 26, but did not appear, reportedly detained hours earlier.

The ABL has since accused the Centre of launching a coordinated attempt to dismantle Ladakh’s peaceful agitation, framing Wangchuk and others as instigators in an effort to delegitimize their demands.

“There is an attempt to give an anti-national colour to the movement. But even when the BJP office was attacked, the Indian flag was left untouched,” said Chhering Dorje Lakruk, ABL co-chairperson.

Violence, deaths, and a movement at crossroads

Recent protests turned violent when sections of youth — frustrated over the slow pace of talks and deteriorating health of fasting protesters — broke off from the main group. What began as a peaceful demonstration swelled to over 7,000 people, culminating in stone-pelting at government offices and arson.

Police opened fire without warning, according to eyewitnesses, leaving four young men dead. Nearly 95% of the injuries were from bullets or pellets. CRPF troops, many say, used excessive force, with some victims still hospitalized with live ammunition lodged in their bodies.

The ABL has demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence and the role of security forces.

Political backlash and national attention

The crackdown has drawn condemnation across the political spectrum:

• Omar Abdullah, former J&K CM, called Wangchuk’s arrest “unfortunate” and accused the Centre of routinely reneging on promises.
• Mehbooba Mufti, PDP leader, said:

“A lifelong advocate of peace, sustainability and truth is being punished merely for demanding that promises be kept. In today’s India, speaking truth to power comes at a heavy cost.”

• Sajjad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance called the arrest a “brutal crackdown on Ladakhi leadership”, vowing the struggle for statehood will continue.

Centre accused of ‘suppressing voices’

The ABL and allied groups are refusing to attend the September 28 informal meeting called by the Union Home Ministry in Delhi, citing their need to first attend funerals of those killed. They assert they will only participate in future talks if the October 6 meeting addresses statehood and Sixth Schedule demands.

The ABL also slammed Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta for suggesting “foreign hands” in the protests. Lakruk responded, “If outsiders were involved, what was the administration doing? Were they asleep?”

The larger demand: Sixth Schedule and Statehood

Ladakh’s demands include full statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently applies to select northeastern states and grants autonomous legislative and administrative powers to tribal areas. Protesters argue that Ladakh’s unique cultural, demographic, and ecological sensitivities require similar safeguards.

What’s next?

With Wangchuk behind bars, the region faces a critical juncture. The Centre’s actions risk deepening alienation in the fragile Himalayan territory, while the Ladakhi leadership now faces the dual challenge of defending civil liberties and keeping their movement non-violent and focused.

“Our movement is peaceful, democratic, and rooted in constitutional rights,” said Lakruk. “You can arrest leaders, but you can’t arrest the aspirations of a people.”