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The protests already caused deaths and arson and the state needed a strong action to show control and prevent further flare-up, say government sources
Activist Sonam Wangchuk denounced the violence.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) on Friday, two days after violent protests by supporters of the movement for statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule of Constitution left at least four dead and 90 injured.
The home ministry had blamed Wangchuk, a senior member of Leh Apex Body (LAB), which, along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), is spearheading the agitation in support of the demands for the past over five years, for provocation leading to the violence.
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“Wangchuk’s arrest under the NSA was important at this point. The parallel crackdown on the funding for SECMOL and licence cancellation gave reasons to investigate him further. After violent incidents and business disruption, wider public support is not fully behind him,” they said.
“The protests already caused deaths and arson and the state needed a strong action to show control and prevent further flare-up. Wangchuk was the symbolic face of the movement and detaining him under NSA weakens the movement’s ability to mobilise quickly,” said sources.
“Leaving him free could lead to more mobilisation, speeches, and renewed unrest, so preventive detention was used as a deterrent,” they said.
Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike in support of the demands, however, denied the charges. He denounced the violence and also ended the fortnight-long fast following the violence on Wednesday.
The LAB said on Friday that their protest was peaceful and that the violence on September 24 was triggered when a section of the youth got out of control.
Addressing a press conference, the Apex Body denied activist Sonam Wangchuk’s role in the violence in Leh.
In the statement, a member of the LAB said, “We had called for a Leh Bandh on September 24. Before that, on September 23, two people who were in the protest were admitted to the hospital. After learning this, a huge mob of youth came to the hospital. On the day of the bandh, more people than we expected poured in at the site of the strike. A large part of the people were youth that day.”
The LAB said that despite senior leaders’ attempts to control protesters, they vandalised the BJP’s office. “The police personnel then targeted them with bullets. There was no prior warning or tear gas,” the member said.
With PTI, ANI Inputs
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
September 26, 2025, 19:03 IST
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