Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA, Protests Rock Ladakh

Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA, Protests Rock Ladakh

Internet snapped in Leh; four civilians killed in clashes earlier this week

 CNB World Times

Leh, India, 26^th Sep, 2025 – Ladakh is on the boil after the arrest of noted climate activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The arrest, made on Friday, comes just two days after violent protests in Leh demanding statehood  and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory left four civilians dead and nearly 90 others injured, including security personnel.

Authorities said the use of NSA — which allows prolonged preventive detention without bail — was necessary to maintain law and order. Officials accused Wangchuk of inciting a mob through provocative speeches. He was swiftly shifted to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan, while internet services were suspended in Leh to curb the spread of unrest. Dozens of his supporters were also detained in a 24-hour crackdown.

The arrest was preceded by another blow to the activist. On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cancelled the FCRA license of his non-profit SECMOL, barring it from receiving foreign donations. The ministry alleged Wangchuk failed to control the protests, stating: He broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance amidst the violence, without making serious efforts to calm the situation.”

However, Wangchuk has denied all allegations, claiming he is being made a scapegoat. Just a day earlier, he had told NDTV that he was prepared for arrest: “I will be happy to be arrested anytime for this cause. But I warn, Sonam Wangchuk in jail will be equally, if not more, problematic for the government than Sonam Wangchuk outside.”

Anger and Questions in Ladakh

Wangchuk’s detention has ignited fresh anger among locals. Many see it as an attempt to silence Ladakh’s voice. Supporters recalled his contributions — from pioneering Ice Stupas to revolutionising education in the mountains — and questioned why a teacher, scientist and environmentalist was being treated like a criminal.

“Why has he been jailed? Is it for maintaining law and order, or for suppressing the demand of Ladakhis?” asked a protester in Leh. With curfew-like conditions now in place, the movement for statehood has taken on a sharper edge, with Wangchuk’s arrest becoming its rallying cry.

Political Reactions

The arrest has also triggered political criticism. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called it “unfortunate,” accusing the BJP government of failing Ladakh. “We are not justifying violence, but BJP should answer why they let such a situation develop,” he said. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said jailing Wangchuk was “wrong and unnecessary.”

A Bigger Question

Sonam Wangchuk, who won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018, has long advocated for sustainable development and protection of Ladakh’s fragile environment. Today, he stands accused of fuelling unrest.

For many in India, his arrest raises larger questions:

1. Is it a crime to demand constitutional safeguards for one’s region?

2. Can dissent be treated as a threat to national security?

3. Or is this an attempt to crush the voice of a sensitive border state?

As Ladakh remains tense and heavily policed, Wangchuk’s arrest has gone beyond a law-and-order issue. It has become a symbolic battle between people’s rights and state power— one that is likely to resonate far beyond the mountains of Ladakh.