Activist Sonam Wangchuk is arrested amid the Ladakh protest, with authorities invoking the National Security Act. The demonstration demands the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, raising legal, political, and social questions about regional autonomy and governance in Ladakh.
The Ladakh Police apprehended activist Sonam Wangchuk and invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) just two days after the Union Territory experienced some of its worst violence in decades.
This unrest was triggered by protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections, which escalated into violent clashes.
Wangchuk was taken into custody at 2:30 PM by a police team led by Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal and has since been relocated outside of Ladakh. He was supposed to hold a press conference in Leh at that time.
Additionally, the administration has suspended mobile internet services in the Leh area as a precautionary measure.
Earlier, On Thursday, the Union home ministry revoked the license of his NGO under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, citing alleged violations. The MHA linked the mob violence and arson that occurred on Wednesday to “provocative” speeches made by Wangchuk, who referenced Arab Spring-style protests and the Gen Z movements in Nepal.
Wangchuk, however, contended that the government is fabricating a case to imprison him.
The alleged violations include depositing locally generated funds into SECMOL’s FCRA account, diverting funds for non-permissible activities such as studying the nation’s sovereignty, and failing to deposit foreign funds into the designated FCRA account.
The protests in Ladakh resulted in four fatalities and over 80 injuries, including among police personnel, on Wednesday. A curfew was imposed in Leh, vehicles were set on fire, and security forces resorted to firing tear gas and live rounds to disperse the crowds.
The BJP office in Leh was also set ablaze during the unrest.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike advocating for statehood and constitutional protections, terminated his fast as tensions escalated after two fellow hunger strikers collapsed and required hospitalization.
This turmoil occurred just days before scheduled talks between the Centre and the Leh Apex Body on October 6, which would be the first in four months. Sources from the Centre indicated that the government wanted Wangchuk excluded from the discussions, viewing him as an impediment.
Wangchuk expressed that the community was frustrated, stating,
“Next elections are about to happen and they (the Centre) are yet to fulfil promises made in the last elections.”
The immediate trigger for the unrest occurred on Tuesday evening when two hunger strikers, Tsering Angchuk (72) and Tashi Dolma (60), were taken to the hospital in critical condition. They had been on a 35-day fast advocating for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections.
Their medical emergency prompted young people across Ladakh to take to the streets in solidarity. By Wednesday morning, a shutdown had been declared, crowds had gathered at Martyrs’ Ground in Leh, and tensions escalated into violent clashes.
A new round of talks has been arranged for October 6 between the Centre and representatives from Ladakh, including members of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
The Centre’s unilateral decision to set this date was one of the immediate triggers for the protests that occurred on Wednesday.
However, the core issue driving the agitation is the demand for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Ladakh became a Union Territory (UT) in 2019 after being separated from Jammu and Kashmir. This change in status had been a long-standing demand from the people of Ladakh for over seventy years, as their needs were reportedly overlooked by the previous Jammu and Kashmir state government.
What is the Sixth Schedule?
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution outlines the governance of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It empowers local communities to play a significant role in the administration of these regions. The youth in Ladakh are advocating for their region to be governed under the protections of the Sixth Schedule.
According to this Schedule, an autonomous district can be subdivided by the governor if there are multiple Scheduled Tribes present. Each autonomous district is entitled to a District Council with no more than 30 members.
The governor is allowed to nominate up to four members, while the remaining members are elected through adult suffrage.
Furthermore, each autonomous region will have its own Regional Council.
Under the Sixth Schedule, in an autonomous district with Regional Councils, the District Council has powers limited to those delegated by the Regional Council, alongside the powers granted by the Schedule for specific areas.
The Schedule also details the legislative powers of the District Councils and Regional Councils regarding the administration of justice in these autonomous regions.
It specifies the delegation of powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to the Regional and District Councils, as well as certain courts and officers for the adjudication of specific suits, cases, and offenses.
The Governor can dissolve a district or regional council based on recommendations from a Commission.
Can the Sixth Schedule be amended?
The Parliament has the authority to amend the Sixth Schedule through legislation, which may include additions, variations, or repeal of its provisions.
The law states,
“When the Schedule is so amended, any reference to this Schedule in the Constitution shall be construed as a reference to the amended version,”