Ladakh Activist Under Fire: Sonam Wangchuk, Face of Statehood Movement, Blamed for Violence and Faces Financial Probe
LEH, LADAKH — The Central government is reportedly poised to take action against prominent Ladakhi activist and education reformist, Sonam Wangchuk, over serious allegations of financial irregularities and suspected money laundering, sources told NDTV on Thursday.
This development comes on the heels of violent clashes between pro-statehood protestors and security forces in Leh, which resulted in four deaths and over 80 injuries.
Mr. Wangchuk, widely recognised as the face of the movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule, had been on a hunger strike to press the demands.
Government sources allege that “serious financial irregularities” and “repeat violations” of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) have been detected in the functioning of his non-profit organization, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), and associated entities.
Sources indicate the primary focus of the investigation is on possible money laundering.
The action follows a day of unprecedented violence in the Union Territory, during which a mob vandalised an office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and torched a vehicle belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The federal Home Ministry has directly singled out Mr. Wangchuk, blaming a mob “motivated by his provocative speeches” for the attacks. The Ministry further claimed a “conspiracy” behind the protests, suggesting that Ladakh’s “Gen Z” youth were caught in a “sinister plot for political and personal gain.”
Mr. Wangchuk has previously dismissed allegations of orchestration and insisted his movement remains peaceful, though he has described the youth unrest as an “organic outburst” and a “Gen Z revolution” fueled by unmet demands for statehood and employment. The latest allegations mark a significant escalation in the tensions between the activist and the central authorities.
