Ladakh’s Director General of Police S D Singh Jamwal announced on Saturday that activist Sonam Wangchuk is under investigation for allegedly having links with Pakistan. This probe follows the arrest of a Pakistani intelligence operative, who reportedly sent videos of Wangchuk’s protests across the border.
Jamwal identified Wangchuk as a principal figure in the violence that erupted earlier this week, which resulted in the tragic deaths of four individuals and left many injured. His remarks come amid escalating tensions in the region.
On Friday, law enforcement officials detained Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act, subsequently placing him in a jail located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Jamwal noted, “What has been found in the investigation against Wangchuk cannot be disclosed at this moment. The process is ongoing, and his profile is widely available on platforms like YouTube.”
According to the police chief, Wangchuk’s public speeches likely incited unrest as he drew parallels between Ladakh and the Arab Spring, as well as recent turmoil in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. “He had his own agenda,” Jamwal asserted, emphasizing that ongoing inquiries focus on foreign funding and violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Further detail emerged as Jamwal referenced specific details regarding Wangchuk’s foreign engagements, categorizing them as “suspicious.” “Wangchuk attended an event organized by The Dawn in Pakistan and also made a trip to Bangladesh,” he revealed to reporters.
Wangchuk has been a prominent activist, representing the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in their demand for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to the Union Territory of Ladakh. Jamwal claimed that Wangchuk attempted to monopolize this platform and disrupt ongoing dialogues between the Indian government and regional representatives.
In a fresh round of negotiations, the Centre recently invited leaders from the region to discuss these pivotal issues on October 6. Notably, Jamwal indicated that Wangchuk continued a hunger strike even after being aware of an informal meeting scheduled for September 25.
“Just a day before the informal meeting, a deliberate attempt was made to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere through provocative videos and statements,” Jamwal stated, attributing Wednesday’s violence to such provocations. “This culminated in unfortunate deaths.”
Adding to the investigation, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta commented on a perceived foreign conspiracy linked to the Wednesday violence. He noted that three Nepali nationals sustained bullet injuries during the unrest, suggesting their involvement in the events that unfolded.
Police detained a total of 50 individuals in connection with this violence, with half a dozen suspected as ringleaders. “Obviously, Wangchuk, who was the primary instigator in this case, has been placed in an external jail,” the DGP concluded, underlining the gravity of the situation.
