Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been spearheading the movement seeking statehood and protections under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) by the police in Leh on Friday. His wife said he has been taken to a jail in Jodhpur.
The development comes days after the Centre accused him of instigating the violent protests that broke out in Leh on Wednesday, which ended in the death of four individuals in police firing. Fifty people were also injured.
The following day, the Centre revoked the FCRA license of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, founded by Wangchuk. The CBI has also initiated an inquiry into the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh, which he runs, for alleged FCRA violations.
Wangchuk was scheduled to appear, via Zoom, at a press conference on Friday being organised by the Apex Body, Leh (ABL), which is negotiating with the Centre. Though his secretary joined the link online, Wangchuk did not appear. Sources said Wangchuk was picked up by the police from his village of Uleytokpo.
