In a powerful message from behind bars, renowned Ladakh activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk has appealed to his supporters to continue their demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule protection through non-violent Gandhian means. Speaking from Jodhpur Jail, where he is being held under the National Security Act (NSA) following the September 25 violence in Ladakh that claimed four lives, Wangchuk urged peace and unity among the people. He expressed condolences to the families of those killed and called for an independent judicial probe into the incident. “Unless a fair investigation is conducted, I am prepared to stay in jail,” Wangchuk said in a statement shared by his lawyer Mustafa Haji and brother Ka Tsetan Dorjey Ley, who recently visited him.
Wangchuk reaffirmed his commitment to the ongoing movement, declaring his full support for the Apex Body, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and the broader Ladakhi community. “I stand firmly with the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for the Sixth Schedule and statehood. I appeal to everyone to keep peace and unity and continue our struggle peacefully — in the true Gandhian way of non-violence,” he said. The Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning innovator, widely respected for his education reforms and sustainable living initiatives, was taken into custody after clashes erupted between protesters and security forces, during which buildings were set ablaze and both civilians and a soldier lost their lives.
The arrest has sparked nationwide outrage, drawing attention to Ladakh’s long-standing demands for constitutional safeguards and democratic representation since its separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging his detention under the NSA. The case will be heard by a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria. Meanwhile, the situation in Ladakh remains tense but gradually stabilizing, with local authorities reopening schools and shops as normalcy begins to return. NDTV’s ground report highlights that while calm is being restored, the people’s determination for a peaceful resolution and full statehood for Ladakh remains stronger than ever.
