Police arrested environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday after deadly unrest swept through Ladakh region. Security forces killed five demonstrators during Wednesday clashes when protesters demanded greater political autonomy for the territory. Authorities blamed the 59-year-old engineer for making speeches that sparked violence across the mountainous area. His lawyer confirmed officers detained him from Uley Tokpo village without revealing specific charges.
Wangchuk had maintained a hunger strike calling for either federal statehood or constitutional protections for Ladakh communities. The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner gained fame through water conservation work and inspired a Bollywood character. Government officials revoked his organization's foreign funding permit Thursday as tensions escalated. Modi's administration separated Ladakh from Kashmir in 2019 but failed to deliver promised constitutional safeguards for tribal populations.
Wangchuk had maintained a hunger strike calling for either federal statehood or constitutional protections for Ladakh communities. The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner gained fame through water conservation work and inspired a Bollywood character. Government officials revoked his organization's foreign funding permit Thursday as tensions escalated. Modi's administration separated Ladakh from Kashmir in 2019 but failed to deliver promised constitutional safeguards for tribal populations.
