On Friday, Indian police detained renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk following violent protests in Ladakh, a Himalayan region, resulting in at least five fatalities, according to a lawyer.
Protests, which demanded more political autonomy for this sparsely populated area bordering China and Pakistan, turned violent on Wednesday when security forces fired on demonstrators.
The Indian government attributed the unrest to “provocative speeches” by Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike, calling for either full federal statehood for Ladakh or constitutional safeguards for its tribal communities, land, and delicate environment.
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Mustafa Haji, representing Apex Body Leh, which leads the protests, informed AFP that Wangchuk was “taken” by police from his village, Uley Tokpo, on Friday.
“The charges against him are still unknown,” Haji stated.
Wangchuk, aged 59 and an engineer by profession, is celebrated for his innovative water conservation projects in the Himalayas.
He was honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018 for his environmental efforts and his role in reforming education in Ladakh.
His life and initiatives reportedly inspired a character portrayed by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in the blockbuster film ‘Three Idiots’.
Wangchuk, a staunch supporter of environmental and tribal rights in Ladakh, was briefly detained by Delhi Police last year during a protest march.
Indian authorities revoked the foreign funding license of his non-profit on Thursday.
In 2019, India’s government separated Ladakh from Indian-administered Kashmir, imposing direct governance on both regions.
New Delhi has yet to honor its promise to incorporate Ladakh into the “Sixth Schedule” of the Indian constitution, which allows self-governance.
India’s military maintains a significant presence in Ladakh, which includes disputed areas with China.
In 2020, troops from both India and China clashed in the region, causing the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
