Activist Sonam Wangchuck has been arrested by Leh police on Friday, September 26, amid the unrest  in Ladakh that killed four. Wangchuk is facing allegations of serious financial irregularities. Several reports on irregularities in his foreign funding have surfaced, as the government believes that significant discrepancies have been found within his NGO and private institutions. It is alleged that Wangchuk, under the guise of a mass movement, not only violated the law but also misused foreign funds for personal gain.

Earlier, the Apex Body Leh, which is leading the agitation for statehood for Ladakh, stated on Friday that their protest is peaceful and that the violence on September 24 was triggered when a section of the youth got out of control. Addressing a press conference here, the Apex Body denied activist Sonam Wangchuk’s role in the violence in Leh during his ongoing hunger strike.
In the statement, a member of the Apex Body Leh said, “Our movement will be peaceful and nonviolent to disseminate this, we started prayers of all the religions. When Sonam Wangchuk started the Hunger Strike, a few people were there. We used to call people from villages. We called for a Leh Bandh on September 24.”

“Before that, on September 23, two people who were in the protest were admitted to the hospital. Getting to know this a huge mob of youth came to the hospital. On the day of the bandh, more people than we expected poured in at the site of the strike. A large part of the people were youth that day,” he said.