September 28, 2025

Big news from Leh! Ladakh officials have slammed the brakes on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, detaining him under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26. Why? They say his spicy speeches and fiery actions stirred up the violent protests on September 24 that sadly left four people dead and many hurt. The administration claims Wangchuk's talks referenced the Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring, sparking unrest in the usually calm town. The Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) Ladakh didn't hold back in their statement: "Time and again it has been observed that Wangchuk has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state and detrimental to maintenance of peace and public order and services essential to the community." Despite offers from the government for talks through a high-powered committee (HPC) and prior meetings, Wangchuk pushed forward with his hunger strike starting September 10, with what officials accused of having an "ulterior motive." His continuous protests and provocative speeches, they say, led directly to the fiery violence where institutions were torched, police were attacked, and peace shattered. The statement added a pinch of regret: "The entire episode could have been avoided if he could have risen above his personal and political ambitions by calling off the hunger strike when the dialogue with the government was resumed on the same agenda." With the region demanding statehood and an extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, tensions were already boiling. Officials stressed the need to calm the storm in Ladakh’s peace-loving Leh town and thought moving Wangchuk out was crucial. "In the backdrop of his provocative speeches and videos, for the larger public interest, it was not advisable to keep him in Leh district," they explained. So, Wangchuk was detained and shifted to Jodhpur prison in Rajasthan based on specific intelligence inputs. The Ladakh administration says this tough step was needed to stop further violence and restore order in the region. What will happen next? The whole nation is watching closely as tensions simmer in this beautiful Himalayan land.

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Sonam wangchuk, Ladakh violence, Nsa detention, Climate activist, Leh protests, Public order,