Administration cites 'provocative speeches' in Sonam Wangchuk's NSA arrest, curfew to continue

Leh: The Ladakh administration has defended its decision to detain climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), citing a series of what it described as "provocative speeches" and references to movements such as the Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring, which it claims incited violence in Leh on Wednesday. The unrest left four people dead and several others injured.

In a statement issued late Friday night, the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) of Ladakh said Wangchuk’s detention was necessary to restore order in the otherwise "peace-loving" town of Leh and to prevent further disruption to public order.

"Today, on September 26, Wangchuk of Uley Tokpo village of Leh has been detained under NSA. Time and again it has been observed that Wangchuk has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state and detrimental to maintenance of peace and public order and services essential to the community," the DIPR stated.

The administration further claimed that despite the government’s offer to engage in dialogue, including meetings with the High-Powered Committee (HPC), Wangchuk had continued his hunger strike since September 10, allegedly pursuing an "ulterior motive".

"His series of provocative speeches, references to Nepal agitations, Arab Spring etc and misleading videos resulted in the violent protests of September 24 in Leh where institutions, buildings and vehicles were burnt down and, in the aftermath, police personnel were attacked leading to the unfortunate death of four individuals," the statement said.

"The entire episode could have been avoided if he could have risen above his personal and political ambitions by calling off the hunger strike when the dialogue with the government was resumed on the same agenda," it added, referring to longstanding demands for statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Emphasising the importance of restoring peace, the administration reiterated that Wangchuk’s continued presence in Leh posed a threat to public order.

"To ensure this, it is also important to prevent Wangchuk from further acting in a manner prejudicial to maintenance of public order. In the backdrop of his provocative speeches and videos, for the larger public interest, it was not advisable to keep him in Leh district," the statement said.

The administration said the decision to detain Wangchuk and transfer him to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan was taken after receiving specific intelligence inputs and conducting a thorough assessment of the situation.

The individuals who lost their lives in the recent violence in Leh have been identified as Tsewang Tharchin (46), Stanzin Namgyal (24), Jigmet Dorjay (25), and Rinchen Dadul (21).

Restrictions to continue

Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) remained in force in Leh on Saturday, in the wake of recent violence during protests calling for statehood for Ladakh.

As per the official order, gatherings of five or more people are prohibited within the district. No processions, rallies, or marches are permitted without prior written approval from the authorities.

Security personnel continue to be deployed across the area to maintain order.

In the aftermath of the violence, the administration imposed a curfew under Section 162 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The curfew has remained in place for a third consecutive day, with internet services suspended and a heavy security presence maintained across the region.

All schools and colleges have been ordered shut until Saturday as a precautionary measure.

The unrest began on September 10, when protestors launched a hunger strike demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.

Wangchuk had consistently urged the government to respond to local concerns, cautioning that failure to do so could lead to rising tensions. “If the government continues to ignore our demands, unfortunately, this may happen again,” he had remarked shortly before the violence broke out.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)