Wangchuk Detained Under National Security Act After Ladakh Protests
Social activist and climate campaigner Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, 2025, following violent protests in Ladakh that erupted over long-standing demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The detention came two days after large-scale protests in the Union Territory turned violent, resulting in the death of four people and injuries to at least 90 others, according to official sources. The unrest marked one of the most serious law-and-order crises in Ladakh since it was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019.
Authorities alleged that Wangchuk’s actions and statements had the potential to disrupt public order and national security, prompting his detention under the NSA, which allows incarceration without formal charges for up to 12 months. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, environmental activists, and opposition leaders, who argue that the detention is an attempt to silence democratic dissent.
Wangchuk, widely known for his advocacy on environmental protection and sustainable development in the Himalayan region, has been a prominent voice supporting Ladakh’s demands for constitutional safeguards. Protesters argue that Sixth Schedule status is essential to protect the region’s tribal identity, fragile ecology, and land rights from unchecked development.
The government, meanwhile, has defended the action, stating that maintaining peace and stability in the strategically sensitive border region is a priority. Security has been tightened across key areas of Ladakh, and internet services were temporarily restricted in parts of the Union Territory following the violence.
Legal experts have pointed out that the use of the NSA in cases related to political protest raises serious concerns about civil liberties and proportionality, especially when preventive detention laws are invoked against non-violent activists.
As demands for Wangchuk’s immediate release grow louder, the episode has reignited the national debate over the balance between national security and the right to protest, particularly in regions with unique constitutional and geopolitical sensitivities like Ladakh.