Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under National Security Act Amid Statehood Protests

Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent statehood activist from Ladakh, has been arrested under the National Security Act (NSA), according to government sources.

The activist was detained a day after stating he would be "happy to be arrested for this cause." The stringent NSA allows for extended preventive detention without bail possibility.

Following his arrest, authorities suspended internet services in the region to prevent misinformation from spreading.

Just prior to his detention, the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the FCRA registration of Wangchuk's organization, the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), blocking its ability to receive foreign funds.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner has consistently denied allegations from the central government regarding his role in recent violence that resulted in four deaths and over 50 injuries, including security personnel.

In a Thursday interview with NDTV, Wangchuk clarified that his non-profit didn't accept foreign contributions but conducted legitimate business transactions with international organizations including the UN and European entities, paying all required taxes.

"They mistook it as foreign contributions. I consider it a mistake on their part and therefore I don't mind it. But that's what was thought of as a foreign contribution. It is not," he explained to NDTV's Padmaja Joshi.

Ladakh's sentiment has shifted dramatically since 2019, when residents initially celebrated becoming a Union Territory after the central government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370. The current tensions reflect growing demands for statehood.

Growing discontent with the political vacuum under Lieutenant Governor administration has united political and religious groups from Buddhist-majority Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil to advocate for their shared demands.

The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed Wangchuk refused to end his hunger strike despite ongoing government engagement with regional representative bodies - the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance.

"The process of dialogue through this mechanism has yielded phenomenal results... However, certain politically motivated individuals who were not happy with the progress made under the high-powered committee have been trying to sabotage the dialogue process," stated the MHA on Wednesday when violence erupted during Wangchuk's hunger strike.

Officials accused Wangchuk of inciting the mob through provocative statements. "Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation," the MHA added.

Beyond statehood, Wangchuk has advocated for Ladakh's inclusion under the Constitution's Sixth Schedule, which would establish autonomous governance structures for tribal areas.

In his NDTV interview Thursday, Wangchuk appeared to anticipate his arrest: "I'm preparing for that. I am looking forward to it. I don't want to be in any confusion... But I want to tell you Sonam Wangchuk in jail will be equally, if not more problematic as Sonam Wangchuk outside participating in dialogues and discussions... because it will awaken people more about how this country is being run."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the central government over the arrest, calling it "unfortunate" and questioning why the BJP allowed the situation to deteriorate.

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir also condemned the arrest, stating: "He never encouraged violence. The BJP government is hiding its failure after it could not handle the issues of Ladakh."