Prominent Indian educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk has been arrested and branded a traitor by Indian authorities.
According to reports, Wangchuk — a leading voice in Ladakh’s protest movement — has been accused of plotting an “Arab Spring-style uprising” and conspiring to topple the government.
Sources confirmed that Wangchuk was transferred to Jodhpur Jail on September 26, where he is being held under the National Security Act (NSA), allowing detention without trial for up to one year.
During the recent wave of protests in Ladakh, four people were killed in firing by Indian security forces. Authorities have also accused Wangchuk of inciting violence during what began as a peaceful hunger strike, while more than 80 protesters have been detained.
Wangchuk’s wife condemned the arrest, saying, “In just one month, he has been turned from a hero into a traitor. The Modi government couldn’t buy him, so now it’s trying to silence him through fear. Democracy no longer exists in India.”
Sonam Wangchuk, celebrated globally for his work on glacier preservation and solar energy innovation, has long championed sustainable education models in the Himalayas. He is also said to have inspired one of the main characters in the Bollywood film “3 Idiots.”
Meanwhile, Ladakh remains under near-lockdown conditions. Protesters are confined to their homes, and Indian Army personnel have been deployed across Leh to prevent further demonstrations.
