Sonam Wangchuk arrested in Leh, shifted to local police station for questioning

STC NEWS DESK
LEH, SEPTEMBER 26 (STC): Environmental activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by Leh police on Friday in the wake of violent protests earlier this week that left four civilians dead, reports a cross section of media.
The arrest, confirmed by officials, comes just two days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a strongly worded statement accusing Wangchuk of provoking mobs and undermining dialogue between Ladakh leaders and the Centre.
Officials said Wangchuk was taken into custody at his residence and shifted to a local police station for questioning. He has not yet been formally charged, but police sources indicated that he could face cases under provisions related to unlawful assembly and incitement.
His arrest coincided with an intensified crackdown that has seen more than 50 people detained so far, including residents from outside Ladakh such as Nepalese nationals and individuals from Doda district. Investigators are probing possible external involvement in the unrest.
It’s worth mentioning that the home ministry had categorically blamed Wangchuk for delivering inflammatory speeches during his prolonged hunger strike in Leh, alleging that he made provocative references to the Arab Spring and student protests in Nepal. According to the ministry, these remarks stoked passions and triggered the violent turn of demonstrations in Leh on September 24, when crowds attacked government offices, torched vehicles and clashed with police. In retaliation, security forces opened fire, leading to four civilian deaths.
Meanwhile, opposition parties and civil society voices in Ladakh argued that Wangchuk’s detention would inflame rather than calm the situation.
(Straight Talk Communications)