Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested 2 days after violent protest in India's Leh

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested by India's Ladakh police on Friday (26 September), two days after protests demanding sixth schedule inclusion for the union territory turned violent in Leh.

Wangchuck was supposed to address a press conference at 2.30pm on Friday but was arrested before he could talk to the media.

The climate activist and innovator has been leading a protest for full statehood of Ladakh and recognition of the UT under the Sixth Schedule to preserve tribal rights.

The protest turned violent on Wednesday, resulting in the death of four people while scores others were left injured.

Sonam Wangchuck was arrested by a Ladakh police team led by DGP S D Singh Jamwal. Internet services have also been suspended in Leh. It was not immediately clear what charges had been pressed against him. According to a PTI report, he has been shifted out of Ladakh.

The union ministry of home affairs (MHA) had blamed Wangchuck for Wednesday's violence in Leh, saying in a statement that it was incited by his "provocative statements." However, the activist denied the charges. He denounced the violence and also ended the fortnight-long fast following it.

The ministry on Thursday revoked the FCRA licence of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an NGO led by Sonam Wangchuck. It cited "financial irregularities" as the reason for the action. The activist denied those charges too, calling the investigation into him by the CBI and the MHA a "witch hunt".

Apex body Leh defends Sonam Wangchuck

The Apex Body Leh, which is leading the agitation for statehood for Ladakh, stated on Friday that their protest is peaceful and that the violence on September 24 was triggered when a section of the youth got out of control.

The Apex Body denied activist Sonam Wangchuk's role in the violence in Leh during his ongoing hunger strike.

"Our movement will be peaceful and nonviolent to disseminate this, we started prayers of all the religions. When Sonam Wangchuk started the Hunger Strike, a few people were there. We used to call people from villages. We called for a Leh Bandh on 24 September," PTI quoted a member of the Apex Body Leh as saying in the statement.

"Before that, on 23 September, two people who were in the protest were admitted to the hospital. Getting to know 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," he said.

The Apex Body Leh member said that despite senior leaders' attempts to control protestors, they vandalised the BJP's office.

"After this, the Youth became uncontrollable; they wanted to protest outside, but we stopped them. Our senior leaders also ordered them to stop. They didn't listen to that. They started protesting and went to the BJP office and vandalised," he said.