Ladakh protest leader Sonam Wangchuk arrested

Environmental activist and spokesperson for the Ladakh statehood movement, Sonam Wangchuk, was arrested by police on Friday afternoon from his residence in Leh. The charges allege that he incited the public to violence through provocative statements, according to the Ladakh Police, led by DG SD Singh Jamwal.

A day prior to his arrest, Wangchuk had reportedly said that he would welcome detention if it furthered the movement’s cause.

The Magsaysay award-winning educator and activist has recently faced scrutiny over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), resulting in the revocation of his organization’s license. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also launched a probe into his organization.

Wangchuk, however, has defended his organization, stating it did not receive any foreign funds. He clarified that while the organization engaged in business transactions with the UN and institutions in Switzerland and Italy, all taxes were duly paid. “This has been mistakenly viewed as foreign funding,” he said, adding, “It is not a grant, but a business transaction.”

The arrest comes after violent clashes in Leh on Wednesday, during which protesters demanding separate statehood and inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution clashed with security forces, leaving four dead and around 80 injured.