Leh, Ladakh – Sonam Wangchuk, a famous environmentalist and education reformist, was arrested today at his home in Leh by the Indian police.

The arrest follows the buildup of violence and tension in the Ladakh region that resulted in four deaths and more than 50 injuries, and the decision by the government to revoke the license of his NGO to take foreign funding.

Wangchuk is accused of violating the National Security Act (NSA), which permits long-term preventive detention without bail.

According to government sources, the arrest was made after Wangchuk was accused of inciting a mob with “provocative statements.”

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), two days ago, mob violence was instigated by the activist.

The MHA also alleged that despite the government being in dialogue with local groups, Wangchuk did not call off his fast and left the protest site in an ambulance without making a serious effort to control the situation as the violence unfolded.

His arrest is also based on the government’s cancellation of the registration of his free educational organization, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.

Also See: Indian Government Blames Sonam Wangchuk for Ladakh Violence as Protest Turns Deadly

A Strained Relationship

The Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning activist has refuted all the charges put on him by the Centre and the administration of the Union Territory.

On Thursday, in an interview with NDTV, Wangchuk explained that his organization was not receiving any foreign contribution, but they have been carrying out business with international organizations such as the UN, the Swiss, and Italian organizations.

“They mistook it as foreign contributions… I consider it a mistake on their part, and therefore I don’t mind it. But that’s what was thought of as a foreign contribution. It is not,” he said.

The arrest and the government’s claims of foreign involvement in orchestrating the crisis highlight the deeply strained relationship between the government and the activists in the region.

This has been simmering since Ladakh was separated as a Union Territory, out of Jammu and Kashmir, in 2019, and many locals feel that a political vacuum exists under the Lieutenant Governor.

It has caused political and religious forces in the Buddhist-majority of Leh and the Muslim-majority of Kargil to unite to demand statehood and representation in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which follows the management of tribal areas.

Criticism From Political Leaders

The arrest has drawn criticism from political leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who called the action “unfortunate.”

“The BJP will never fulfil their promises. We are not justifying violence… but BJP should answer why they let such a situation develop,” he told a news agency.

The situation remains tense, with many in the region and across the country watching closely to see how the government handles the fallout from the arrest of one of Ladakh’s most prominent voices.