Activist Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Amid Escalating Ladakh Unrest

Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday by Leh Police as violent protests continued to roil Ladakh, leaving at least four people dead and more than 90 injured. Authorities confirmed that around 50 individuals have been detained in connection with the clashes, which erupted during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) to demand statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.

The arrest comes just days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revoked the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences of two organisations founded by Wangchuk—the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL).

According to the ministry, the cancellations were prompted by repeated financial irregularities, violations of FCRA Sections 17 and 18, and the acceptance of foreign contributions deemed “against national interest.” Among the flagged transactions was a ₹4.93 lakh transfer from Sweden, which officials said was used to examine issues such as sovereignty and migration—subjects outside the permissible scope of foreign-funded activities.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been reviewing the accounts of SECMOL and HIAL for the past two months, though no formal case has yet been registered. Acting on an MHA complaint, investigators have seized records dating back to 2020 and questioned staff members in Ladakh.

Wangchuk has rejected the allegations, insisting that the funds were legitimate payments for “knowledge-sharing services with the UN, Swiss universities, and an Italian institution,” with taxes duly paid.

This is not the first instance of official action against his organisations. In August 2025, the Ladakh administration cancelled HIAL’s land allotment for failure to utilise it for its declared educational purpose. SECMOL also received a show-cause notice for depositing ₹3.5 lakh from the sale of an old bus into its FCRA account—an action prohibited under Section 17. Another discrepancy cited by the ministry involved a ₹3.35 lakh personal donation from Wangchuk that was not recorded in the official FCRA account.

The crackdown on Wangchuk’s institutions comes amid intensifying unrest. On September 24, demonstrators torched BJP offices and clashed with security forces, who responded with tear gas and firing. The government has accused Wangchuk of inciting the violence through repeated calls for “Arab Spring-style” and “Gen-Z” uprisings. His indefinite hunger strike since September 10 has become a rallying point for Ladakhi youth. Wangchuk, however, attributes the discontent to “six years of unemployment and unmet promises,” denying any role in provoking violence.

The MHA stressed that the Centre remains engaged with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) through a High-Powered Committee (HPC). Officials highlighted steps already taken, including increasing Scheduled Tribe reservations from 45% to 84%, granting 33% reservation for women in local councils, recognising Bhoti and Purgi as official languages, and approving 1,800 new government jobs. The next round of HPC talks is scheduled for October 6.

The ministry accused Wangchuk of “sabotaging dialogue” by fomenting unrest, while reiterating the Centre’s commitment to Ladakh’s development. Officials said the revocation of SECMOL and HIAL’s FCRA licences reflects the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward financial violations and activities perceived as destabilising the Union Territory.