Ladakh on Edge: Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk Detained Under NSA After Leh Violence

 Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk Detained Under NSA Amid Tensions in Leh

The Union Territory of Ladakh is on edge after the detention of prominent climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, who has been leading a peaceful campaign for Statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for the region. On Friday, authorities invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Wangchuk, just two days after violent protests in Leh left four civilians dead and nearly 90 injured.

The move has sparked outrage among local groups and supporters across the region. The Leh Apex Body (LAB), which has been at the forefront of the agitation alongside Wangchuk, strongly denied that he had any role in the violence. According to them, the clashes on September 24 were driven by anger among young protesters, particularly after news broke that two demonstrators on hunger strike had been hospitalized.

Despite this, police led by Ladakh DGP S.D. Jamwal detained Wangchuk, and according to his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, he was flown out of Leh to Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Leh has remained under curfew for two days since the protests, while internet services have been suspended. In Kargil, the administration has imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which restricts gatherings of more than four people.

The government’s use of the NSA — a law that allows prolonged preventive detention — suggests officials are linking Wangchuk’s arrest directly to the unrest, though he has not been named in the violent incidents. Protesters had attacked the BJP headquarters and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Secretariat in Leh during Wednesday’s clashes, leading to heavy police action and the tragic civilian deaths.

Community leaders, however, insist Wangchuk is being unfairly targeted. Chering Dorjey Lakrook, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association and co-chairman of LAB, called the accusations against Wangchuk “baseless,” adding that the youth’s anger was fueled by fear for the lives of hunger strikers, not by Wangchuk’s words or actions.

Meanwhile, grief continues to grip Leh. The last rites of the four deceased protesters are scheduled for September 28 and 29, and leaders say talks with the Union government cannot resume until the funerals are complete. The LAB delegation still plans to travel to Delhi on September 29 to push its case for Statehood and Sixth Schedule protections, despite the tension on the ground.

Political leaders have also spoken out. Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa condemned the detention, saying, “If Mr. Wangchuk has been arrested for his peaceful agitation, we strongly oppose it.” Civil society and religious groups across Ladakh have echoed similar sentiments, warning that the detention risks further alienating the local population.

At 59, Sonam Wangchuk is not just a local activist but an internationally respected figure, known for his climate advocacy and awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his contributions. His detention marks a turning point in the Ladakh agitation, raising fears that the conflict between local aspirations and the central government’s stance could escalate further.

For now, Leh remains tense — its streets quiet under curfew, its people grieving, and its future uncertain.