Ladakh Statehood Activist Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA, Shifted to Unknown Location

New Delhi/Leh | September 26, 2025 Prominent Ladakh activist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on charges of inciting violence with provocative statements. Officials confirmed he has been taken to an undisclosed location and may be shifted out of Ladakh soon. The NSA allows preventive detention for extended periods without bail, making this one of the toughest measures taken against the statehood campaigner. A day before his arrest, Wangchuk had told NDTV that he was “prepared and happy to be arrested anytime if it is for this cause.” His detention coincides with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cancellation of the FCRA registration of his educational non-profit, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), which barred it from receiving foreign funds. Wangchuk has denied financial irregularities, clarifying that SECMOL did not receive foreign donations but engaged in legitimate business transactions with international organisations and paid all required taxes. Following the arrest, internet services were suspended in Ladakh to curb the spread of rumours. The move comes after violent clashes earlier this week that left four dead and more than 50 injured, including security personnel. Authorities allege that Wangchuk’s speeches provoked unrest, though the activist has dismissed the charges. Discontent in Ladakh has been building since the region’s separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and its conversion into a Union Territory without a legislature. While there was initial support, demands for full statehood and Sixth Schedule protections have gained momentum amid complaints of political vacuum and lack of safeguards for land and jobs. Both Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil groups have united under joint platforms such as the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to press these concerns. The Ministry of Home Affairs defended its actions, stating that it has been in continuous dialogue with these groups through a high-powered committee and has already made progress on many fronts. However, it accused “politically motivated individuals” of attempting to derail talks. The MHA further claimed that Wangchuk, despite being on a hunger strike during the clashes, failed to pacify his supporters and instead left the protest site in an ambulance. Political leaders have strongly reacted to the arrest. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the government, calling the detention “unfortunate” and accusing the BJP of failing to deliver on promises to the people of Ladakh. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir echoed this sentiment, insisting that Wangchuk never promoted violence and blaming the government for mishandling the region’s issues. Wangchuk, known globally for his innovations in sustainable education and climate solutions, has insisted that his campaign is peaceful. He also warned that his imprisonment might galvanise more public support: “Sonam Wangchuk in jail will be equally, if not more, problematic as Sonam Wangchuk outside,” he said before his arrest. Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested under the stringent National Security Act and moved to an undisclosed location. Known for his campaign seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, Wangchuk faces allegations of making provocative remarks that incited violence, though he has denied the charges. His non-profit SECMOL also had its FCRA license cancelled, which he insists is based on a misunderstanding of legitimate transactions. Political leaders have called the arrest unfortunate and unjust, while Wangchuk himself had earlier said he was prepared for jail if it meant advancing the cause of Ladakh’s rights.