Leh, Ladakh: Indian police on Friday arrested Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, two days after violent protests demanding statehood for the Himalayan territory left four people dead and dozens injured. Mobile internet services were suspended in Leh as a precautionary measure.
Details of the protests
The unrest erupted on Wednesday, when protesters torched buildings and police vehicles in Leh. Demonstrators had gathered near a site where Wangchuk had been on a 14-day hunger strike. Police opened fire during the clashes, which officials described as self-defence, resulting in casualties among both civilians and security personnel.
Arrest and government action
Wangchuk was taken into custody ahead of a press conference he was scheduled to address. India’s Interior Ministry accused him of inciting violence through provocative statements. The government also cancelled the licence of his NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing alleged violations.
Wangchuk had previously denied the allegations, stating that the violence reflected local frustration with the federal government.
Background and demands
Ladakh, a Buddhist-Muslim enclave, lost its regional autonomy in 2019, when the Modi government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir, bringing Ladakh under direct administration of New Delhi. Protesters are demanding:
- Statehood for Ladakh
- Job quotas for local residents
- Special status for tribal areas, allowing elected local governance
The federal government and Ladakh leaders have been in talks over these demands since 2023, with the next scheduled meeting on October 6, 2025.