Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk booked under NSA, Shifted to Jodhpur jail

September 26, 2025 by News Desk

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Renowned climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and later shifted to Jodhpur in Rajasthan, NDTV reported.

The NSA allows preventive detention for extended periods without bail.

His arrest comes just two days after violent protests in Leh by supporters of the Ladakh statehood movement left four people dead and nearly 90 injured.

The agitation, led by local groups, has been demanding statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh’s fragile environment.

Wangchuk had begun a fast on September 10 to press for these demands but ended it on September 24, as violence erupted across the region. Following his arrest, authorities suspended internet services in Leh and imposed curfew-like restrictions.

The move has sparked widespread political reactions. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal condemned the arrest, calling it an example of “dictatorship at its peak,” while his party colleagues announced a candlelight vigil at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “The real traitors are not Sonam Wangchuk but those in government who are playing games with the country’s borders.”

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the arrest “unfortunate,” accusing the Centre of going back on promises made to the people of Ladakh. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti called the detention “deeply disturbing,” adding that “speaking truth in today’s India comes at a heavy cost.”