Sonam Wangchuk arrested: Activist moved out of Ladakh; NSA invoked

NEW DELHI: The Ladakh Police on Friday arrested activist Sonam Wangchuk and slapped the stringent National Security Act (NSA), two days after the Union Territory witnessed its worst violence in decades, as a protest over statehood and Sixth Schedule safeguards spiralled into clashes.

Wangchuk was taken into custody by the police party led by Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal at 2.30 pm, the officials told news agency PTI, adding that he has been shifted out of Ladakh. He was scheduled to address a press conference in Leh at 2:30 pm.

The administration has also snapped mobile internet services in the Leh area as a precautionary measure.

On Thursday, Union home ministry cancelled his NGO's licence under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, over alleged violations.

The MHA attributed Wednesday's mob violence and arson in Ladakh to the "provocative" speeches made by Wangchuk with references to Arab Spring-style protests and the Gen Z outpouring in Nepal.

Wangchuk, however, alleged that the government was building a case to put him behind bars.



The alleged violations include depositing locally generated funds in SECMOL's FCRA account, diversion of funds for non-permissible activities, like studying the country's sovereignty, and failure to deposit the foreign funds received in the designated FCRA account.

Sources claimed even Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) founded by Sonam Wangchuk had received foreign remittances of over Rs 1.5 crore without FCRA registration. An amount of Rs 6.5 crore was allegedly diverted to Wangchuk's private firm Sheshyon Innovation.

Sources said Wangchuk had sent Rs 2.3 crore abroad during 2021-24 from his personal account, and received Rs 1.68 crore foreign funds from 2018 to 2024 in different accounts, adding that he has nine personal bank accounts of which eight are not declared.

An official said HIAL has seven accounts, of which four remain undeclared; and SECMOL had nine accounts, of which six are not declared. Sheshyon has three accounts of which two are not declared. Wangchuk has been receiving huge CSR funds from corporates, including PSUs, even though he criticises them, the official said.

CBI, on the request of the home ministry, is now probing the alleged violations while the income tax authorities are looking into other financial irregularities.

What happened in Ladakh?

The protest in Ladakh left four people dead and more than 80 injured, including police personnel on Wednesday. Curfew was imposed in Leh, vehicles were set ablaze, and security forces fired teargas and live rounds to quell the crowds.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for statehood and constitutional protections, called off his fast as tensions erupted after two fellow hunger strikers collapsed and were hospitalised.



The immediate trigger came on Tuesday evening when two hunger strikers, Tsering Angchuk (72) and Tashi Dolma (60), were shifted to hospital in critical condition. They were part of a 35-day fast demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections.

Their collapse moved youths across Ladakh to take to the streets in solidarity. By Wednesday morning, a shutdown had been called, crowds gathered at Martyrs’ Ground in Leh, and anger spilled over into clashes. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk admitted the hospitalisation acted as the flashpoint for the violence that derailed his peaceful campaign.
Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search