Sonam Wangchuk under probe for alleged Pakistan links: Ladakh DGP

Ladakh Director General of Police S D Singh Jamwal on Saturday said climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is under investigation for alleged links with Pakistan following last month’s arrest of a Pakistani intelligence operative who had sent videos of Wangchuk-led protests across the border, reported PTI.

Jamwal alleged that Wangchuk was the key instigator of Wednesday’s violence in Leh that left four people dead and several injured. Wangchuk was detained on Friday under the National Security Act and shifted to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

“What has been found in the investigation (against Wangchuk) cannot be disclosed at this moment. The process is going on… His speech worked as instigation as he talked about the Arab Spring and the recent unrest in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka,” PTI quoted Jamwal as saying.


He said a probe into possible foreign funding and FCRA violations is underway. The DGP also cited Wangchuk’s foreign visits, calling them suspicious, including his participation in an event organised by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper and a visit to Bangladesh.

Wangchuk has been the leading face of the agitation by the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule. Jamwal accused him of trying to “hijack the platform” and disrupt dialogue between the Centre and local representatives.

The Centre has invited Ladakh leaders for fresh talks on October 6. Jamwal claimed that Wangchuk continued his hunger strike despite knowing an informal meeting was scheduled for September 25, and “a deliberate attempt was made to vitiate the atmosphere through provocative videos and statements,” which triggered Wednesday’s violence.

On Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s remark about a foreign hand, Jamwal said three Nepalese citizens were admitted to hospital with bullet injuries and others’ involvement was under scrutiny.

So far, 50 people have been taken into custody, including at least six suspected ringleaders, he added.

“Obviously, Wangchuk, who was the main instigator, has been lodged in an outside jail,” Jamwal said.

(With inputs from PTI)