Ladakh protests turn violent as activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested under NSA

Protests in Ladakh demanding full statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution turned violent this week, culminating in clashes that left four dead and more than 80 injured. The unrest, centred in Leh, erupted on 24 September, as demonstrators clashed with security forces, torching vehicles and vandalising the local BJP office.

Authorities imposed a curfew and suspended internet services to restore order, while climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, a key figure in the agitation, was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) on 26 September. The government has accused Wangchuk of provoking the violence, leading to his detention and the cancellation of his NGO's foreign funding licence.

This development highlights growing tensions in the union territory since its bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, with locals voicing concerns over land rights, employment and environmental protection.

Escalation of protests in Leh

The week began with peaceful demonstrations organised by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), alliances that are pushing for Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule to grant tribal autonomy and protect indigenous rights.

On 24 September, a rally in Leh turned chaotic when protesters allegedly pelted stones at police, prompting tear gas and baton charges. Four civilians died from injuries, and over 50 protesters and 22 security personnel were hospitalised. Eyewitnesses reported bullet wounds on some victims, raising questions about the use of force.

The BJP office in Leh was set ablaze, and a CRPF vehicle was torched amid the fury. Authorities blamed "miscreants" for the arson, but protesters claimed frustration over unmet promises post-Article 370 abrogation. Curfew was clamped on Leh town from 25 September, with mobile internet suspended to prevent further mobilisation.

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, of which Ladakh was a part until 2019, Omar Abdullah described the violence as "unfortunate" and called for dialogue.

Sonam Wangchuk's role in the agitation

Sonam Wangchuk, the Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning engineer and educationist, has been at the forefront of Ladakh's demands. He began a 21-day climate fast on September 20 to press for statehood, environmental safeguards, and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.

Wangchuk, catapulted to nationwide recognition from the film 3 Idiots, had mobilised youth through social media, drawing parallels to Gen-Z protests in Nepal and Bangladesh. In a video message, he urged demonstrators to "show the way" if external threats, such as China, arose, which critics labelled as provocative.

Prakash Jha made Satyagraha to launch Arvind Kejriwal's political career. Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots exaggerated Sonam Wangchuk's work, making him a Google search keyphrase, while he was no more important than hundreds of other NGOs working on primary education. The set pattern… https://t.co/CjzM1w4hFPpic.twitter.com/HFS7jd05kg

— Surajit Dasgupta (@surajitdasgupta) September 25, 2025

Wangchuk broke his fast on 25 September after the violence, citing health reasons, and was shifted to a hospital. He denied inciting unrest, claiming that the protests were initially peaceful until they were disrupted.

On X, leftists like lawyer Prashant Bhushan and fellow Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Arvind Kejriwal hailed him as a "peace icon", while others accused him of engineering chaos.

Allegations against Wangchuk

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has squarely blamed Wangchuk for the violence, stating his "provocative statements" incited the mob. Officials claimed he left the scene without attempting to de-escalate, allowing anarchy to unfold. Allegations surfaced of foreign links, with his NGO, Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), having its FCRA licence revoked on 23 September for purported violations.

Spooked by sudden uprisings in neighbouring SAARC countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, all of which appeared to follow a set pattern, critics pointed to a 2007 Congress accusation of using foreign funds to destabilise the region, and his attendance at a Pakistan-backed event in Islamabad in February this year.

Wangchuk's remarks on "hiding faces during protests" and invoking "Nepal-like experiments" drew fire, with BJP leaders calling him an "arsonist" and "ex-Modi fan."

On X, posts labelled him a "xerox (sic) of Arvind Kejriwal," made by PR and media, allegedly by the US deep state.

The UPA couldn't act against Sonam Wangchuk as his fellow foreign-funded anarchists were in the government through Sonia Gandhi's NAC.

The deep state forgot the current regime is a different animal! Modi does not need China's Tiananmen Square; India's FCRA chokehold suffices. pic.twitter.com/YLBnXf6OKl

— Surajit Dasgupta (@surajitdasgupta) September 25, 2025

Human rights groups like Amnesty International urged an independent probe into the violence and casualties.

Actions taken against Wangchuk

Wangchuk was arrested on 26 September under the NSA, a preventive detention law allowing up to 12 months without trial if deemed a threat to national security. Police detained him before a scheduled press conference in Leh, amid fears of further unrest. The arrest followed the cancellation of the FCRA, which bars SECMOL from receiving foreign funding. Authorities justified it, citing his role in fomenting violence, with reports of invoking UAPA charges.

Opposition leaders decried the move as "undemocratic," with Congress's Rashid Alvi warning it could spark wider unrest. PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi called for his release, terming the detention "oppression." On X, hashtags like #TirahGenocide and #SonamWangchuk trended, with users demanding justice.

Government response and ongoing talks

The Centre reiterated commitments to Ladakh, noting increased ST quotas to 84%, women's reservations and official status for local languages. High-level talks with LAB and KDA are ongoing, but protesters are demanding concrete timelines. Lieutenant Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra appealed for calm, blaming "external elements."

The unrest has drawn international attention, with Al Jazeera terming it Ladakh's "bloodiest day." Pashtun groups expressed solidarity, linking it to broader issues of minority rights.

The violence risks derailing tourism, a lifeline for the region, amid calls for probes into police actions. It exposes fractures in Ladakh's post-UT status, with fears of land grabs and cultural erosion. Analysts warn of potential escalation if demands remain unmet.