“Black Day for Ladakh”: Sonam Wangchuk Detained Under NSA, Shifted to Jodhpur Jail
Detention comes after violent protests over Sixth Schedule and statehood demands; netizens call it a “black day for Ladakh.”
Leh, Sep 27: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and transferred to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan, hours after his arrest on Friday, the Ladakh administration confirmed in a midnight announcement.
The arrest follows violent protests in Leh on 24 September by supporters of the movement for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion, which left four dead and 90 injured after police firing. Wangchuk had begun a 35-day hunger strike on 10 September demanding the Sixth Schedule, statehood, and protection for Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem but ended it after the outbreak of violence.
The administration stated that Wangchuk’s actions, including provocative speeches and misleading videos referencing foreign agitations, contributed to the unrest and posed a threat to public order. Officials emphasized that detaining him under the NSA and moving him to Jodhpur was necessary to restore normalcy in Leh.
On social media, many called the detention a “black day for Ladakh”, with some demanding the resignation of Lt. Governor Kavinder Gupta, holding him responsible for the police firing.
The official release noted: “Time and again, it has been observed that Shri Sonam Wangchuk has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state and detrimental to the maintenance of peace, public order, and essential services.”
