Is it too late to do the right thing ?
60 arrested so far; demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule triggers unrest
Leh, Sept 26 – Prominent Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday, days after violent protests rocked Leh. Authorities have held him responsible for the September 24 clashes that left four dead and over 80 injured, including 40 police personnel.
The region remains tense with a curfew in force for the third consecutive day. Schools and colleges will remain closed until Saturday. The violence erupted during demonstrations demanding full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
During the unrest, protestors set the local BJP office ablaze, leading to widespread condemnation. So far, police have arrested 60 individuals linked to the violence.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has tightened its scrutiny of Wangchuk. On Thursday, it cancelled the foreign funding license of his NGO, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), citing violations under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The CBI probe found alleged misuse of foreign donations.
Another of Wangchuk’s organizations, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), is also under investigation for suspected breaches of FCRA norms.
While authorities maintain that Wangchuk’s arrest is linked to the violence, details of the exact charges remain unclear. The crackdown marks a serious escalation in Ladakh’s unrest, as the government moves to curb both the protests and the financial networks behind them.
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