Environmental activist Wangchuk arrested by Indian police in Ladakh
Leh: Renowned environmentalist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was arrested today by Indian police from his residence in Leh in the Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Wangchuk was taken into custody and moved to a police station for questioning. Following his arrest, authorities suspended internet services across Leh
Wangchuk’s arrest follows the Indian government’s controversial ban on the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), a non-governmental organization he founded.
Both the arrest and the NGO ban are widely seen as part of a broader campaign by the BJP-led Indian government to suppress dissent and silence one of the region’s most prominent and respected voices. Wangchuk has long been at the forefront of a peaceful movement advocating for Ladakh’s political rights and constitutional protections of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution.
Wangchuk’s arrest comes just two days after the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) accused him of provoking protests in Leh, an allegation he has strongly denied. Known internationally for his pioneering work in climate activism and sustainable education, Wangchuk issued a video statement prior to his detention, rejecting the charges as politically motivated.
“Jailing me will not solve the crisis. If anything, it could deepen the alienation and create more problems,” he warned in the statement, describing the Indian government’s actions as an attempt to scapegoat him.
The arrest coincides with an intensified crackdown across Ladakh. Over 50 people have been detained so far. Just days earlier, on Wednesday, Indian forces opened fire on unarmed demonstrators demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards, leaving four people dead and nearly 100 injured.
The situation in Ladakh remains tense, with heavy deployment of Indian forces, continued curfew in Leh, and restrictions on gatherings of five or more persons across major towns, including Kargil.
