Following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, environmental activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk has been detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). He has been transferred from Leh to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update, Sep 25: On August 5, 2019, Ladakh was granted Union Territory status following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir. At that time, the central government assured that Ladakh would be granted full statehood within five years.The people of Ladakh, under the leadership of Sonam Wangchuk, have been demanding the fulfillment of this promise.
On October 6, 2024, Sonam Wangchuk, along with 20 associates, staged a strike at Ladakh Bhawan in Delhi to demand full statehood and greater rights under the Sixth Schedule of Constitution. After a 21-day strike, the central government invited them for talks, which remained inconclusive.
Due to stalled negotiations for nearly 10 months regarding statehood and special rights for Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk and the Leh Apex Body (LAB) initiated an indefinite hunger strike in Leh lasting 35 days.
During the strike, on September 24, the health of two protesters deteriorated, leading to a call for a bandh (shutdown) on September 25. During the bandh, young protesters turned violent, setting fire to the BJP office, office of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and CRPF vehicles, and engaging in large-scale stone-pelting and violence. To disperse the crowd and control the situation, police forces had to use tear gas and force. The violence resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to approximately 90 people. Following the violence, the administration imposed a curfew and banned gatherings of more than 4-5 people in the region. Over 50 individuals were arrested after the incident.
On September 26, 2025, at 2:30 PM, a team led by Ladakh Police Chief SD Singh Jamwal arrested Wangchuk in Uletokpo Gunn near Leh. He was immediately sent to Jodhpur, where he is under 24×7 surveillance. Internet services in Leh have been suspended to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The central government has revoked the FCRA license of Wangchuk’s NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), a move that critics have termed “dictatorial.” Wangchuk’s detention was carried out under the NSA, a law enacted in 1980 that allows for the detention of individuals deemed a threat to national security without trial for an extended period.
The Union Home Ministry has accused Wangchuk of delivering provocative speeches, including references to the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen Z protests. He has been held responsible for inciting the crowd, which led to the arson of the BJP office and vehicles.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta stated that the violent mob attempted to burn CRPF personnel inside a vehicle, forcing the police to open fire.
The BJP has dismissed any involvement of Generation Z (Gen Z) in the violence, instead linking it to the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, and American billionaire George Soros.
The Indian National Congress has strongly condemned the violence in Ladakh on September 24, 2025, and Wangchuk’s arrest, calling it a “gross failure” of the BJP government and a diversionary tactic. The party has demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths of four youths and injuries to over 90 people during the violence.
As of September 27, 2025, the situation in Ladakh remains tense. Protests continue following Wangchuk’s transfer to Jodhpur Jail, and plans for talks with the government are underway.
A delegation from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is scheduled to visit Delhi on September 29-30, 2025, to resume negotiations with the Home Ministry regarding demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. Wangchuk has expressed support for this initiative, hoping for a peaceful resolution.