Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA Amid Escalating Statehood Protests

September 26, 2025

Leh: Ladakh’s most prominent activist, Sonam Wangchuk, was arrested on Friday under the National Security Act (NSA), just two days after violent clashes in Leh left four people dead and over 90 injured.

The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing statehood agitation in the Union Territory.

Wangchuk’s detention came a day after the Centre revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of his NGO, the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing alleged violations of foreign funding laws.

Officials claimed the organisation had breached FCRA rules, though Wangchuk has rejected the charge, maintaining SECMOL never received foreign donations and only engaged in legitimate collaborations with global institutions.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning activist has long campaigned for full statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.

Earlier this month, he began a hunger strike to press these demands, which was called off on September 24—the day protests spiralled into violent clashes with security forces in Leh, marking the worst unrest the region has seen in years.

The Union Home Ministry has directly linked Wangchuk to the turmoil, accusing him of making provocative references to Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal, which it claimed incited mobs.

Authorities have since imposed restrictions on public gatherings, with heavy deployment across Leh and Kargil, and several people detained for questioning.

The unrest highlights Ladakh’s shifting political mood since 2019, when residents welcomed the abrogation of Article 370 and the Union Territory status.

Today, however, discontent has grown over the absence of legislative powers and concerns about cultural and demographic erosion.

Wangchuk’s arrest is expected to intensify the statehood movement, placing the Centre in a challenging position as it seeks to contain discontent in a strategically sensitive region bordering China and Pakistan.