LEH, Sept 26 – Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday afternoon in Leh, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 others injured, officials said.
According to police sources, Wangchuk was taken into custody at 2:30 pm by a team led by Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal. The exact charges against him were not immediately clear.
The Union Home Ministry had blamed Wangchuk, a senior member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) – which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has been spearheading the agitation for over five years – for allegedly provoking the violence.
Wangchuk, who ended his 15-day hunger strike on Wednesday after clashes erupted, has denied the allegations, calling the protests “a reflection of people’s frustration” over years of unfulfilled promises.
Omar Abdullah Slams Arrest
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the arrest “unfortunate” and accused the BJP-led NDA government of reneging on commitments made to Ladakhis.
“The way the Centre was after him since yesterday, it was clear something like this was coming. Promises were made to the people there, but the government seems to be backtracking. I don’t understand what compulsions they have,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
Background: The Protests and Hunger Strike
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Root of the agitation: Since Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, local groups have been demanding Sixth Schedule protections to safeguard land, culture, and jobs from outside exploitation.
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Role of Wangchuk: The renowned climate activist and education reformer became the face of the movement, launching repeated hunger strikes to press the Centre for action. His latest fast began on September 9.
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Escalation: On September 25, protests turned violent after two hunger strikers were hospitalised. Clashes left four protesters dead, with police accused of using excessive force. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and called in reinforcements.
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Centre’s position: The Ministry of Home Affairs has convened another round of talks with LAB and KDA leaders on October 6, but growing anger over delays has deepened mistrust among locals.