The quiet streets of Leh tell a story of anger and hope. For the fourth day, a curfew grips Ladakh’s main town, with police and army keeping watch. The reason? Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, a beloved figure, was arrested yesterday under the tough National Security Act (NSA). The calm hides pain after Wednesday’s clashes left four dead and over 80 hurt.
Wangchuk, 59, known for his green solutions and the inspiration for 3 Idiots, was picked up near his Leh home on Friday. He was set to talk to reporters about Ladakh’s push for statehood and land protections. Police say his words caused trouble, and he’s now in Jodhpur jail, far from the mountains he loves. His supporters call it a plan to quiet a leader who speaks for the people.
The protests started peacefully, asking for statehood and Sixth Schedule rules to protect Ladakh’s tribal lands. Wangchuk led a 14-day hunger strike, ending Tuesday when two friends got sick. But on Wednesday, September 24, young protesters turned angry at Martyrs’ Ground. They burned cars and a BJP office, clashing with police who used tear gas and bullets. Four lives were lost, and Leh went under lockdown. Internet and phones are off, shops open for a few hours, and life feels paused.
Today, Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal spoke out, blaming Wangchuk. At a press conference, he said, “We arrested a Pakistan PIO [intelligence operative] recently who was in touch with him, reporting across. He attended a Dawn event in Pakistan and visited Bangladesh. There’s a big question mark on him. Investigation continues.” Jamwal added that Wangchuk’s talks of Nepal protests and the Arab Spring stirred unrest, and probes into foreign funds are on.
Wangchuk’s arrest has sparked a fire across India. Delhi and Mumbai held candlelight vigils, and #FreeSonamWangchuk trends on X with over 50,000 posts. Aamir Khan, who met him for 3 Idiots, tweeted, “A hero jailed? India needs his ideas.” Opposition leaders like Congress call the NSA use unfair, while BJP defends it for peace. In Leh, a shopkeeper whispered during a curfew break, “We want talks, not jails.”
This is Ladakh’s fight – for a voice, for its land, for its future. As the curfew holds, will Wangchuk’s call echo louder from behind bars?
How Leh’s Protests Turned Deadly
The trouble began on September 24 at Martyrs’ Ground. A peaceful call for statehood grew heated. Young people, tired of waiting for change, threw stones and set fires. Police cars and a BJP office went up in flames. Officers say they used tear gas and shots to protect themselves, but four young protesters died, and over 70 were hurt, including police.
Curfew came fast, covering Leh, Kargil, and nearby areas. Internet was cut to stop rumors. Wangchuk’s arrest on Friday made things worse. Police claim his videos, mentioning global protests, led youth astray, though he called for calm after his fast. The Apex Body, leading the protests, says it’s about 2019’s broken promises – when Ladakh became a union territory with no local control.
Sonam Wangchuk: Ladakh’s Voice for Change
Wangchuk is no ordinary man. Born in 1966, he’s an engineer who chose Ladakh’s cold deserts over city jobs. In 1988, he started SECMOL, a school that builds ice stupas – clever towers that store water for dry farms. They’ve kept villages alive in tough times. His work won the 2013 Ramon Magsaysay Award, like Asia’s Nobel.
When Ladakh lost state status in 2019, Wangchuk stepped up. He marched 500 km to Delhi last year for statehood. This month, his hunger strike pushed for the Sixth Schedule to protect tribal lands. “Our hills, our rules,” he said. Now in jail, his supporters carry his words. The NSA – a law for up to a year without trial – feels wrong for a man of peace. Police point to old foreign ties, like a Pakistan event, but friends say it’s a trick to stop him.
Government’s Response: Lockdown and Blame
The government moved quickly. Curfew locks Leh and beyond, with army and police on every street. Internet stays off to curb trouble. Over 44 arrests, including Wangchuk, says Ladakh DGP Jamwal. He told reporters today, “We arrested a Pakistan PIO in touch with him, reporting across. He went to Pakistan for a Dawn event and Bangladesh. There’s a big question mark on him.” He also said Wangchuk’s talks of global protests and possible FCRA fund issues are under probe.
The Home Ministry calls the protests “politically driven.” A committee for talks paused after the violence. The Lieutenant Governor’s meeting today may ease the curfew. Shops opened for three hours, letting families grab milk and rice. No new fights today, but tension remains. “Leh wants peace,” says a government note, but locals feel unheard.
Ladakh’s Fight: A Cry for Control
Ladakh’s struggle goes back to 2019. When Jammu and Kashmir split, Ladakh became a union territory under Delhi. Promises of jobs and land protections faded. Outsiders buy land, projects harm rivers, and locals have no say. The Sixth Schedule, used in tribal areas like the Northeast, would let them make rules for their land and forests.
Talks started in 2022 but went nowhere. Wangchuk’s fast was to wake Delhi up. Now, with four dead and him in jail, trust is low. “We walked for peace, got bullets,” said a protester’s family. Experts say Ladakh’s glaciers and border with China need special care. Wangchuk’s ice stupas helped; his arrest worries those who want green solutions.
What People Say: Grief and Support
Leh’s people are hurting. A mother who lost her son on Wednesday cried, “He just wanted a job here.” Wangchuk’s friends share memories – him teaching kids under the stars. “He’s our light, not a danger,” one said.
Support spreads fast. Delhi’s Jantar Mantar glowed with candles last night. Aamir Khan tweeted, “India needs him free.” Congress calls NSA misuse; BJP says it’s for safety. On X, #FreeSonamWangchuk grows. A Leh shopkeeper said, “Rice feeds us, but talks give hope.”
What’s Ahead for Ladakh?
The Lieutenant Governor’s review today could loosen the curfew. Protest groups want Wangchuk freed and talks soon. The government may restart the committee. But with Wangchuk in Jodhpur, hope is thin.
His lawyer fights the NSA charge. If he’s freed, will he fast again? Leh watches, waiting. Its mountains stand strong, but its people carry a heavy load.
FAQs: Key Questions on Sonam Wangchuk’s Arrest and Leh Lockdown
1. Why was Sonam Wangchuk arrested under the NSA?
Police arrested Wangchuk on September 26, 2025, under the NSA, saying his speeches caused violence in Leh. DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal said, “He was in touch with a Pakistan PIO, attended a Dawn event in Pakistan, and visited Bangladesh.” They claim he mentioned Nepal and Arab Spring protests, risking unrest. The NSA allows a year’s detention without trial. His team says he urged peace, and it’s to stop his statehood push.
2. What happened during the Leh protests on September 24?
Protests for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections turned violent at Martyrs’ Ground. Angry youth threw stones, burned a BJP office and police cars. Officers used tear gas and shots, saying it was self-defense. Four died, over 80 hurt. The Apex Body blames 2019’s unkept promises, not Wangchuk.
3. What’s the curfew like in Leh today?
On September 27, the curfew is in its fourth day in Leh, Kargil, and nearby areas. Police and army patrol; no clashes today. Internet and phones are off to stop rumors. Shops open three hours for essentials. Schools and offices are shut. The Lieutenant Governor is reviewing security.
4. What do Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule demands mean?
Since 2019, when Ladakh became a union territory, locals want statehood for a legislature and job quotas. The Sixth Schedule would let them control land and forests, protecting against outsider projects. Talks since 2022 have stalled, sparking protests.
5. Who is Sonam Wangchuk, and why does he matter?
Wangchuk, 59, is an engineer who founded SECMOL, known for ice stupas that save water. He won the 2013 Ramon Magsaysay Award and inspired 3 Idiots. His strikes and marches push Ladakh’s rights. His NSA arrest has led to vigils and #FreeSonamWangchuk trending.
6. How is the government handling the protests?
Curfew began September 24, with 44 arrests. Internet is cut, patrols are up. DGP Jamwal said Wangchuk’s foreign ties, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, are under probe. The Home Ministry blames “political groups.” A talks committee paused; the Lieutenant Governor may restart it. SECMOL’s license was canceled
7. Why is the NSA controversial here?
The NSA, for threats like terrorism, allows detention without trial for a year. Using it on Wangchuk, a peaceful activist, draws fire. Congress calls it misuse to silence dissent. Police say his speeches risked trouble, but no clear proof links him to violence.
8. How is India reacting to Wangchuk’s arrest?
Delhi and Mumbai held vigils; Aamir Khan and Congress back Wangchuk. X has 50,000+ #FreeSonamWangchuk posts. Leh locals are calm but sad; a protester’s mother seeks justice. Some BJP supporters back the arrest for peace.
9. What’s the history of Ladakh’s statehood fight?
In 2019, Ladakh became a union territory after Jammu and Kashmir’s split. Promises of jobs and land protections fell short. No local laws led to marches and strikes. Wangchuk’s 2024 Delhi march and 2025 fast pushed the Sixth Schedule, but talks are slow.
10. What might happen next in Leh?
The Lieutenant Governor’s review may ease curfew. Groups demand Wangchuk’s release and talks. His lawyer fights NSA. More arrests could follow if unrest grows. If talks restart, statehood or Sixth Schedule may move forward. Leh stays tense.
Ladakh’s Hope in Hard Times
Leh’s empty streets hold a big dream. Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest has made Ladakh’s fight a national story. From ice stupas to statehood calls, his work lights the way. As lockdown continues, India listens – will talks bring peace, or will jails spark more fire? Join the talk with #FreeSonamWangchuk