Civil liberties group condemns crackdown in Ladakh, demands release of Sonam Wangchuk

By A Representative

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned the alleged throttling of the rights to speech, association, and assembly in Ladakh, following the detention of activist Sonam Wangchuk and others after violent protests in Leh on September 24, 2025.

The organization's statement asserts that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was "arbitrarily and unconstitutionally detained" on September 26, 2025, under the National Security Act (NSA), a law which it terms "draconian." Wangchuk is reportedly detained in Jodhpur prison, Rajasthan, and the PUCL notes that no grounds of detention have been made available to his family, which is a "violation of his statutory and constitutionals rights." Sixty other individuals have been sent into judicial custody on various charges, including attempt to murder. The PUCL also called the detention of Wangchuk outside Ladakh "troubling," suggesting it indicates a desire to "unfairly and vindictively isolate" him from his supporters.

Following the protests, the city of Leh has been placed under restrictions equivalent to the former Section 144 of the CrPC, with all schools, markets, institutions, offices, and courts closed. The streets are barricaded, which the PUCL claims prevents people from accessing their constitutional right to freedom of movement. Furthermore, the organization noted a "total Internet shutdown," despite a Supreme Court ruling that "Freedom of speech and expression through the medium of the internet is an integral part of Article 19(1)(a)."

The protests, which saw an estimated 5,000–6,000 participants, demanded statehood for Ladakh, inclusion under the Constitution's Sixth Schedule, and the establishment of a public service commission. The protests turned violent, resulting in government buildings being attacked and injuries to police personnel. However, the PUCL argues that the police response was "grossly disproportionate."

"Live ammunition was fired into an unarmed crowd, causing an irreplaceable loss of life of four of the young protestors," the statement reads, adding that 86 people were injured, with 15 critically. The organization points out that the death toll "indicates that the police did not exercises their power within the limits of law as a measure of the last resort." The PUCL "strongly condemns the disproportionate and indiscriminate firing by the paramilitary forces."

The PUCL stated its belief that the Union Government is trying to "paint genuine grievances as an outside plot" and find "scapegoats for its failure," by allegedly "besmirch[ing] Sonam Wangchuk as an anti-national king pin behind the protests." The organization cited the targeting of Wangchuk’s NGO, the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), whose FCRA license was cancelled on what the PUCL deems "technical violations," arguing that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) is being "instrumentalised to target the right to association itself."

The civil liberties group concluded its statement by demanding that the Union Government "Release Sonam Wangchuk, withdraw charges foisted against him under the draconian National Security Act (NSA) and ensure his safe return from Jodhpur to Leh." The PUCL also called for an independent judicial enquiry into the violence and firing, immediate release of all other arrested protestors, compensation for the deceased and injured, and the resumption of a meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh on their demands, including the "immediate grant of sixth schedule status under the Constitution, and statehood."

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