India – CRPP-WB: On the Arrest of Sonam Wangchuk
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a press release published by the Committee for the Release of the Political Prisoners (West Bengal) – (CRPP-WB).
Date: September 28, 2025
We have learned from various news outlets that on September 26, 2025, environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, a resident of Ladakh, was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). Previously, we witnessed the central BJP government revoke the constitutional provisions of Articles 370 and 35(A) that provided special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Simultaneously, they split Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, effectively nullifying the long-standing demand for self-determination in Kashmir and abolishing the special provisions for its residents in one stroke.
Furthermore, given that Ladakh is a tribal-dominated area, Sonam, along with many others from Ladakh, have been engaged in a continuous hunger strike advocating for the rightful inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution [Translator’s note: this Schedule provides measures of autonomy and self-governance to the Scheduled Tribes of the northeastern States. The Ladakh movement demands to be included under this status]. However, the central government has been stalling efforts to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, aiming to hand over tribal land to corporate interests. As a result, Sonam and several Ladakh residents resumed their hunger strike. During this period, two senior hunger strikers fell ill, leading to a breaking point for the youth of Ladakh. When they rose in protest, police action resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to nearly 80 others.
In this context, Sonam Wangchuk was charged with inciting protests and several other allegations, including receiving foreign funds through NGOs, and was arrested under the NSA after he ended his hunger strike.
We condemn the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk and demand his immediate release. We fully support the justified movement of the people of Ladakh against the central government’s fascist behavior. Our demands are clear: the central government must take immediate steps to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and halt any attempts to hand over this region to corporate interests.
