Leh Police on Friday arrested Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk as violent protests over statehood and Sixth Schedule demands escalated in the region. The clashes have claimed at least four lives and left over 90 people injured, officials confirmed.
The protests, led jointly by Wangchuk, the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, centre on demands for full statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. To press these demands, Wangchuk began a hunger strike on 10 September 2025, which he ended on 24 September 2025 after 15 days, citing rising violence.
A day before his arrest, Wangchuk spoke to NDTV and said he had already prepared himself for detention. When asked about the possibility, he replied: “If for this cause I have to be arrested, I’m preparing for that. Looking forward to it. I don’t want to be in confusion, so I have made up my mind that I will be arrested.”
He further remarked that his imprisonment would create even greater challenges for the authorities than his presence at protests: “Sonam Wangchuk in jail will be equally, if not more, problematic as Sonam Wangchuk outside participating in dialogues and discussions. It will awaken people more about how this country is being run.”
Describing his past work, the activist noted his contributions to education, collaboration with the Indian defence forces in building solar-heated shelters, and his campaign against Chinese imports: “People who have given their lives for the education of the young, defence of the country, who have worked with the Indian defence forces to build them solar heated shelters, who has launched movements against China — the made-in-China boycott movement was launched by me. If such a person is jailed and corrupt people are freely roaming around, that will be a great scene for the nation to see and understand what’s happening in our country.”
Authorities have not yet issued a formal statement on Wangchuk’s arrest.
(With inputs from News18)
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