Sonam Wangchuk Detained News LIVE Updates: Sonam Wangchuk held under NSA, flown to Jodhpur; Govt cancels foreign funding licence of his institute

Curfew remained in force for the fourth day in Leh on Saturday as police and paramilitary forces intensified patrolling and checking following the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) the previous day, officials said.

In a statement issued late Friday night, the Lt Governor-led administration justified the detention of Wangchuk and said his series of alleged provocative speeches, with references to the Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring, resulted in Wednesday’s violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured.

It said the detention of Wangchuk was “important to restore normalcy” in the peace-loving Leh town and also to prevent him from further acting in a manner “prejudicial to maintenance of public order”.

“There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere in Ladakh during the past 24 hours. The restrictions are in place to maintain law and order,” an official said.

He said Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta will chair a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhavan, and any decision to relax curfew will be taken accordingly.

-PTI

For three decades, the world knew Sonam Wangchuk as an education reformer, a climate activist and an innovator, whose ice stupas promised a new life to the cold deserts of Ladakh and the world. From Ladakh to New Delhi, a darling of everyone, his climate activism slowly pulled him into Ladakh’s complex web of politics.

This three-decade journey, from a climate activist who wanted to highlight the impact of climate change on Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem to a not-ready-to-bend political activist who wanted statehood and protections of land, jobs and cultural identity, culminated into his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday.

Read the full profile

Opposition parties on Friday slammed the Centre over the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, alleging that the move "clearly exposes the government's witch-hunting agenda" and it is an "abysmal failure" to maintain law and order in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Wangchuk was arrested on Friday by a police party in Leh, two days after violent protests by supporters of a movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution left four people dead and 90 others injured, officials said.

Condemning Wangchuk's arrest, the Congress said it was done to divert attention and responsibility from the BJP's "abysmal failure" to maintain law and order and ensure security of life and property in Ladakh.

-PTI

Admitting that the recent violence in Leh was caused by youngsters who went "out of control", Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chering Dorjay on Friday rejected the involvement of a "foreign hand" in the happenings and demanded a judicial probe into the incident that claimed four lives and left 90 people injured.
He alleged that police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel fired indiscriminately on the protesters, without making any attempt to control the unruly mob through other means like the use of water cannons or firing warning shots.
"We have made it clear that if the home ministry does not call us on time for talks, we will intensify our agitation. We have also said that our movement will be peaceful and non-violent. The 35-day hunger strike led by (climate activist) Sonam Wangchuk started with a joint prayer meeting on September 10 and accordingly, the Centre extended an invitation for October 6," Dorjay told reporters here.
He was flanked by several others members of the LAB but Wangchuk, who was also scheduled to address the media, could not reach the venue as he was arrested by police while he was on the way.

-PTI

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.

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Himachal Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi came out in support of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and said that the people of Ladakh and Wangchuk are only demanding their constitutional rights.

Talking to the PTI videos here on Friday, he said that the BJP is operating with repressive policies and is using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as a tool to suppress the opposition across the country.

Negi alleged that a "police raj" has been established in Leh-Ladakh and that efforts are being made to suppress those who are raising their demands under constitutional rights.

He said, "Sonam Wangchuk and the people of Ladakh are only demanding their constitutional rights, and suppressing this voice is dangerous for the unity and integrity of the country".

-PTI

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has called Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest "deeply disturbing".
"A lifelong advocate of peace, sustainability and truth is being punished merely for demanding that promises be kept," she said in a post on X.

Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest is deeply disturbing. A lifelong advocate of peace, sustainability and truth is being punished merely for demanding that promises be kept.
Today, Leh is under curfew with internet shut down a grim echo of what Kashmir has long endured.
In today’s India,…

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) September 26, 2025

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday criticised the BJP-led central government over the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk by the Ladakh Police, calling it an attack on democracy and people's rights.
Wangchuk was taken into custody on Friday, two days after violent protests in Ladakh over demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The clashes had left four people dead and several injured.

-PTI

Activist Sonam Wangchuk may share same fate as 'the Kashmiri leadership that facilitated Kashmir’s accession with India against the logic of partition and were the first to go to Indian jails'.

He added that, 'For New Delhi it’s historically been same-nooz-fit-all in this state'

Looking in retrospect, @Wangchuk66 could share his fate with the Kashmiri leadership that facilitated Kashmir’s accession with India against the logic of partition and were the first to go to Indian jails. For New Delhi it’s historically been same-nooz-fit-all in this state https://t.co/Z0uR0M5Pm4

— Naeem Akhtar (@shangpal) September 26, 2025

"It is unfortunate," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while talking to reporters in Srinagar. "The way centre was after him since yesterday, it was obvious".

Omar said the Centre has the problem that it makes promises but doesn't fulfill them. 

"Some promises were made to them just like promises were made to us. I am unable to understand what forces centre to renege on their promises," Omar said. "Before the Hill council elections when people decided to boycott tye elections, a central minister went to Leh. He made certain promises to make them participate in the elections. The people not only participated in the elections but made the BJP win. But the promises were not fulfilled same as they didn't fulfill promises made to us".

Sajjad Kargili of Kargil Democratic Alliance reacts to Wangchuk arrest: "On my way to Leh, just heard about the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk on baseless charges. I strongly condemn this brutal crackdown on Ladakhi leadership. Our struggle for Statehood & 6th Schedule will continue—no detention or witch-hunt can deter us."

The Centre squarely blamed Wangchuk for the violent protests, saying he "incited" the "mob" and that this was a bid to sabotage the statehood talks already underway. 

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Ladakh Member of Parliament (MP) Mohmad Haneefa on Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the police firing during the September 24 violence in Leh, asserting that the protest-turned-clash was an "outburst" of the long-standing frustration among the region's unemployed youth.The violence in Leh on Wednesday saw clashes and arson, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to at least 59 others, including 22 police personnel.Haneefa described the violence, which left four people dead, as "very unfortunate", acknowledging that protesters were wrong to attack the Hill Council and BJP offices. However, he strongly questioned the security forces' response.-PTI

Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk has been detained days after the statehood protests turned violent and a day after the FCRA licence of his NGO was cancelled, his lawyer confirmed to the Indian Express.Mustafa Haji, legal advisor to Leh Apex Body told The Indian Express: "Sonam Wangchuk has been detained by police while he was on his way to Leh from his village. We are getting more details." 

Of the people who died, one came from Hanu village, over 160 km from Leh; another belonged to Skur Buchan, over 200 km from Ladakh’s capital; the other two were residents of Igoo village and Kharnakling, about 40 km and seven km away, respectively. Three of them were in their early 20s. At least one was an ex-serviceman, and at least two had jobs in Leh.

These are the snapshots of the four men who, sources said, died of multiple bullet wounds in the protests that turned violent in Leh the previous day. 

The Congress on Friday demanded a judicial probe into the killing of four youth during protests in Ladakh. 

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "My colleague Nawang Rigzin Jora has written to the Lt Governor of Ladakh UT demanding a judicial enquiry into the killings of four young men in the protests on September 24th." 

My colleague Nawang Rigzin Jora has written to the Lt Governor of Ladakh UT demanding a judicial enquiry into the killings of four young men in the protests on September 24th. pic.twitter.com/HHTqTEcvlw

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 26, 2025

Why are the youth in Ladakh protesting, and what’s behind the growing demand for statehood? An interview with Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa provides an in-depth look at the protests, the aspirations of the local youth, and the socio-political dynamics shaping Ladakh today. Watch the full interview. 

A home ministry team held a series of meetings to review the overall security situation as curfew remained in force for the third consecutive day in Leh town on Friday, officials said.
“The overall security situation remained peaceful across Ladakh. The restrictions are likely to be relaxed later in the day to allow people to buy essential commodities,” a police official said.
Police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear were seen patrolling the deserted streets to maintain law and order.
People in many areas complained that they are running short of essential supplies including ration, milk and vegetables.
Leh District Magistrate Romil Singh Donk has ordered closure of all government and private schools, colleges, and other educational institutions for two days from Friday. Besides, anganwadi centres will also remain closed, the DM had said.
The officials said a high-level team of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs reached Leh on Thursday to review the security situation.

The Congress said the distress and anguish of the people of Ladakh must awaken the government's conscience, not just for more talks but to actually fulfil their legitimate aspirations in full measure at the earliest.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posted on X saying, six years ago, the people of Ladakh had great expectations when the Union Territory of Ladakh was created but there has been massive disappointment and disenchantment.
The people of Ladakh have seen their land and employment rights under severe threat, he said. 
They have also seen the local administration and elected bodies taken over by the LG and the bureaucracy, Ramesh said.
The people have seen only meetings after meetings on their legitimate demands for protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and for an elected legislature, he said.
Ladakh is of profound cultural, economic, ecological, and strategic importance to India, he asserted.

Six years ago, the people of Ladakh had great expectations when the Union Territory of Ladakh was created.

But there has been massive disappointment and disenchantment as they have seen

1. Their land and employment rights under severe threat

2. The local administration and…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 26, 2025

Police conducted raids at several places in search of those behind the violent protests Wednesday, during which the BJP’s Leh office was also burnt down.

A police officer said: “We have started identifying the rioters and their instigators. So far, we have picked up over 50 people… We have zero tolerance towards violence and anybody involved will face the consequences.” Sources said political leaders would not be spared, Wangchuk being among them.

Independent Lok Sabha MP from Ladakh, Mohmad Haneefa, said that the police firing was unwarranted and that there should be a fair probe into the violence and accountability fixed. In an interview with The Indian Express, Haneefa speaks on various Ladakh issues including the protesters’ demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule, which provides for self-governance in the administration of tribal areas through Autonomous District Councils and Regional Councils. 

Read the full interview. 

Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta chaired a security review meeting and called for heightened vigilance to safeguard peace.

Gupta said, “Peace and harmony are the foundation of Ladakh's identity. Together, we must protect this legacy and ensure the safety and security of every citizen.”

“The lieutenant governor chaired a high-level security review meeting to assess the emerging situation across Ladakh, emphasising the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across the UT,” the LG office said in a post on X.

The meeting was among others attended by Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, DGP S D Singh Jamwal and senior officers of the Army and ITBP.

New Delhi dispatched a ‘special envoy’ to Leh to try and resolve the situation in Leh. A six-member delegation (three each from Leh and Kargil districts) flew to Delhi Thursday evening to engage with the Centre.

Thupstan Chhewang, the Chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), indicated they were ready for a way forward, saying: “An official of the Centre has come and the signal we are getting is that they are ready to start the talks immediately.”