Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Amid Violent Statehood Protests in Leh
Indian police arrested prominent Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday, two days after violent protests in Leh left four people dead and dozens injured. The clashes broke out on Wednesday after demonstrators, demanding statehood and job quotas for locals, moved away from the site of Wangchuk’s 14-day hunger strike. Protesters torched buildings and police vehicles before clashing with security forces, who opened fire in what authorities described as self-defence.
A police official confirmed that Wangchuk was detained ahead of a scheduled press conference, while India’s interior ministry accused him of inciting unrest through “provocative statements.” The government also cancelled the license of his NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, citing violations. Mobile internet services were suspended in Leh on Friday, and curfew orders remain in effect across several parts of the Himalayan territory.
Wangchuk has denied the allegations, saying the violence reflected growing frustration with New Delhi’s policies since Ladakh lost its regional autonomy in 2019. Protesters are pressing for special status, elected local bodies, and protections for tribal areas. Talks between Ladakh leaders and the federal government, ongoing since 2023, are scheduled to resume on October 6.
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