LEH, India (AP) -- Climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act on September 25, 2025, in Leh, Ladakh, after protests over unfulfilled autonomy demands turned violent, with authorities alleging treasonous links.
The detention followed clashes that killed four protesters and injured dozens, including the burning of a local Bharatiya Janata Party office. According to The Sunday Guardian, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the arrest as a "persistent betrayal" of Ladakhi aspirations for Sixth Schedule protections, promised by the BJP in 2019 but not implemented.
Wangchuk, 58, had led peaceful fasts since March 2024 demanding statehood or constitutional safeguards for Ladakh's environment and culture after its bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir. Protests escalated on September 24 when demonstrators marched on Leh's administration complex. Ladakh police chief S.D. Singh stated Wangchuk had attended a 2019 event in Pakistan hosted by the Dawn newspaper, prompting a probe into possible foreign agent ties, per Bolta Hindustan.
In a video circulated on social media, Wangchuk urged restraint, saying, "Do not resort to violence as seen in Nepal and Bangladesh," according to X user Saral Patel. Supporters claimed media outlets aired edited clips to portray him as inciting unrest. Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader, demanded a judicial probe into the deaths, accusing the government of "intimidation" via Instagram.
The Ladakh Students' Association protested the labeling in Delhi on September 29, with member Tashi Lhamo stating, "Calling him a traitor is absurd," as reported by Instagram. No charges were formally filed as of October 1, and Wangchuk remained in custody without bail under NSA provisions allowing detention up to two years.
Wangchuk referenced Nepal's recent youth-led unrest, where Gen Z protests over a social media ban and corruption toppled Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's government on September 10, 2025, after clashes killed at least 22, per CNN. Leh organizers denied direct inspiration but cited shared frustrations with governance. A government spokesperson said further investigations were ongoing; no official confirmation on release timelines was available at the time of reporting.
The Home Ministry has scheduled talks with Ladakh leaders on October 5 to address demands.