Leh Erupts in Tension: Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk Detained En Route to Press Meet Amid Ladakh Protests

The detention, which occurred as Wangchuk traveled from his village to Leh, has ignited fresh outrage among Ladakh’s civil society groups

By NewsArc Correspondent

Leh, Ladakh – September 26, 2025

In a dramatic turn amid escalating unrest in Ladakh, renowned climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk was taken into custody by local police on Friday, moments before he could deliver a scheduled address to the media. The detention, which occurred as Wangchuk traveled from his village to Leh, has ignited fresh outrage among Ladakh’s civil society groups, who see it as the latest escalation in a long-simmering conflict over regional autonomy and unfulfilled promises from New Delhi.

Wangchuk, a key figure in the Leh Apex Body (LAB) – a coalition pushing for full statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule for the Union Territory – had planned to speak at Hotel Abduz in Leh, with a parallel Zoom session for wider outreach. His secretary kicked off the event, but the 58-year-old innovator failed to show. Confirming the arrest, police officials revealed it happened swiftly on the road to the venue, preventing any public statement.

The move comes just two days after violent clashes rocked Leh on Wednesday, where protests against the perceived erosion of local protections turned chaotic. Four demonstrators lost their lives in the ensuing police action, with five others wounded. Eyewitnesses described how a peaceful sit-in devolved into arson – including an attack on a BJP office – after two participants collapsed from exhaustion during a relay hunger strike led by Wangchuk. The activist had immediately urged calm, calling off his fast in a bid to de-escalate.

Mustafa Haji, the LAB’s legal counsel, confirmed the details to NewsArc: “Sonam Wangchuk was intercepted en route from his village to Leh. We’re piecing together the full picture and will respond accordingly.” LAB Co-Chair Chering Dorje Lakrook echoed the dismay, labeling the arrest “deeply regrettable” and vowing a measured reply once more facts emerge.

The timing of the detention aligns with a flurry of federal actions against Wangchuk and his initiatives. On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs stripped the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license from the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), the nonprofit he co-founded to empower rural youth through alternative education. Compounding this, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a probe into Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) over suspected FCRA irregularities, a charge his supporters dismiss as politically motivated.

Central authorities have pinned blame on Wangchuk for “stirring up” the violence, alleging his rhetoric fueled “politically driven agitators” intent on derailing ongoing negotiations between Ladakh representatives and government officials. In a defiant response aired Thursday, Wangchuk suggested the crackdown was a pretext to invoke the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), which could sideline him for up to two years. “I’m prepared for whatever comes,” he stated coolly. “But a jailed Sonam Wangchuk might stir more trouble for them than one walking free.”

The episode has drawn sharp rebukes from across the political spectrum. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking in Srinagar, decried the “predictable” pursuit, linking it to a pattern of broken assurances. “The Centre dangles carrots before elections – like the assurances given to Ladakhis ahead of the Hill Council polls, which lured them to vote and hand the BJP a win – only to yank them away,” Abdullah remarked. “It’s the same script played out with us in Kashmir: grand vows, zero delivery. What compels this betrayal?”

Abdullah’s comments underscore a broader grievance in the region. Ladakh’s push for enhanced autonomy gained steam post-2019, when the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated, stripping the area of its special status. Promises of protections for land, jobs, and culture – including Sixth Schedule extensions – were touted by then-Home Minister Amit Shah during pre-election outreach. Yet, as LAB leaders note, implementation has stalled, fueling cycles of protest.

Wangchuk, whose 2023 “climate fast” inspired the film *3 Idiots* and spotlighted Himalayan ecological fragility, has long embodied Ladakh’s blend of environmental advocacy and cultural preservation. His detention – the first such high-profile snag in the current agitation – risks amplifying calls for escalation, even as LAB insists on non-violent paths.

As of late Friday, authorities had not disclosed Wangchuk’s location or formal charges, leaving his family and allies in limbo. The BJP’s Leh unit remained silent, while national spokespersons reiterated that “law and order” imperatives guided the action. With winter looming and infrastructure strains from recent monsoons unaddressed, the fragile peace in Ladakh hangs by a thread.

NewsArc will continue monitoring developments in this fast-evolving story.