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Sonam Wangchuk arrested under the National Security Act amid allegations of inciting violence. Authorities are investigating his alleged links to Pakistan and foreign funding connection. Read full analysis by veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash.
New Delhi: Today, we're discussing the violence in Ladakh and the serious questions raised by the arrest of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk. A movement that had been ongoing for several months in the peaceful valleys of Ladakh, demanding the Sixth Schedule and statehood, suddenly erupted into violence on 24 September. Four people were killed and more than seventy were injured in the chaos on the streets of Leh.
The situation escalated to the point where police resorted to tear gas, lathicharge, and even firing. A curfew was imposed in Leh, and tension spread throughout Ladakh. This violence is being directly linked to the movement for which Sonam Wangchuk had been the face for the past year.
Senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash said in his show 'The MTA Speaks', two days after this violence, police arrested Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). He was initially detained in Ladakh, and then, for security reasons, was transferred to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan. The NSA is a stringent law that allows a person to be detained for up to 12 months without trial if they are suspected of posing a threat to national security or law and order. Amritpal Singh of Punjab and several leaders from Madhya Pradesh have previously been detained under this law.
Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal held a press conference and made several serious allegations against Wangchuk. He stated that Sonam Wangchuk is not only the mastermind of the violence, but is also being investigated for suspected foreign funding and connections to Pakistan. The DGP claimed that a Pakistani intelligence agent was recently arrested who was sending videos of Wangchuk-led protests across the border. According to the police, Sonam Wangchuk's speeches consistently contained inflammatory rhetoric. He attempted to inspire people by citing the Arab Spring and the movements in Nepal and Bangladesh. The DGP stated that these speeches and statements made on social media incited the crowd, resulting in the violence.
Jamwal also stated that some of Wangchuk's foreign trips are suspicious. He participated in a program for Pakistan's leading media house, "The Dawn," and also visited Bangladesh. Police are investigating his activities related to these trips. Furthermore, there are suspicions of violations of the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) regarding his funding. The DGP stated that the investigation has uncovered several clues that suggest Wangchuk may have received funding from abroad. However, concrete evidence for these allegations has not yet been made public.
It is noteworthy that Wangchuk has long been demanding full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. He says this is necessary to protect Ladakh's culture and fragile ecosystem. He undertook a 21-day hunger strike last year and led a foot march from Ladakh to Delhi in October 2024, although the Delhi Police detained him at the Singhu border. This year, he also embarked on a 35-day hunger strike, and on the 15th day, September 24th, the situation in Leh turned violent.
Before the violence, an informal meeting was scheduled for 25 September between the central government and Ladakh representatives. However, DGP Jamwal alleges that Wangchuk attempted to disrupt the situation by releasing an inflammatory video that day. He says the violence was not a random incident but the result of a well-planned conspiracy. Police have so far arrested more than 50 people, six of whom are believed to be key conspirators. Three Nepali nationals are also hospitalized after being shot, and their role is being investigated.
Sonam Wangchuk, 58, a resident of Ladakh, is known both nationally and internationally as an innovator, educator, and environmental activist. He studied mechanical engineering at NIT Srinagar and subsequently began working in the field of education reform and environmental protection. He initiated an alternative education system in Ladakh, enabling many children to receive a better education. The character Phunsukh Wangdu from the famous film "Three Idiots" is said to have been inspired by him. His work on climate change and protecting glaciers has been internationally acclaimed. This is why, when the central government abolished Article 370 in 2019 and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—Wangchuk welcomed the decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
However, his stance has changed over the past few years. Despite Ladakh's status as a separate union territory, the people there want special constitutional protection to protect their culture and land from outsiders. Wangchuk maintains that Ladakh's geographical conditions are extremely fragile and that reckless development will harm the environment. Out of this concern, he strongly advocated for the Sixth Schedule. He has publicly stated several times that his movement is completely non-violent and his sole aim is to preserve Ladakh's identity.
Because of this image, his arrest has sparked a nationwide debate. While the government claims that Wangchuk was inciting youth to violence and acting at the behest of foreign powers, his supporters call it an attempt by the government to suppress dissent. Opinions are also divided on social media. Some consider him a patriot.
Those fighting for Ladakh, while some are even calling him a foreign agent. His visit to Pakistan and old photographs with Bangladesh's interim Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus are also in the news, leading to various speculations.
Police action is ongoing regarding the violence in Leh. More than 50 arrests have been made so far, and several people are being questioned. DGP Jamwal has clarified that many details cannot be released until the investigation is complete. He said that Sonam Wangchuk has been sent out of the state so that his presence does not further aggravate the local situation.
The most important question in this entire matter is whether there is any concrete evidence to support the allegations against Sonam Wangchuk, or whether this is merely a tactic to suppress the movement. If evidence of foreign funding or Pakistani connections is found, the matter would be extremely serious, but if not, it would be seen as an attempt by the government to suppress a major movement. The CBI and other agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.
The people of Ladakh are currently in a state of confusion. On one hand, they see their leader in custody, and on the other, they fear that if the demand for the Sixth Schedule is not met, their land and culture will continue to be threatened. The decision they welcomed in 2019 has now become a cause for concern.
The situation is currently tense, and a curfew is in place in Leh. A heavy deployment of security forces has been made to prevent any new violence. Sonam Wangchuk's supporters are preparing for a peaceful protest, and his family has appealed to the government to at least allow him to face the judicial process.
