Protests Over Ladakh Autonomy Turn Deadly; Environmentalist Wangchuk Detained
Leh, India – Demonstrations calling for greater political autonomy in the high-altitude, sparsely populated region of Ladakh turned deadly on Wednesday after security forces opened fire. The region, which shares borders with China and Pakistan, has long been a flashpoint for local unrest.
New Delhi attributed the violence to “provocative speeches” by Wangchuk, a prominent environmentalist and activist who had been on a hunger strike demanding either full federal statehood for Ladakh or constitutional protections for its tribal communities, land, and fragile environment.
Mustafa Haji, a lawyer representing the Apex Body Leh, which is leading the protests, told AFP that Wangchuk was “picked up” by police from his village of Uley Tokpo on Friday. “Charges against him are not known yet,” Haji said.
Wangchuk, 59, an engineer by training, is widely recognized for pioneering water conservation projects across the Himalayas. In 2018, he received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for his work on environmental protection and reforms in local education.
His life and efforts are said to have inspired a character portrayed by Bollywood star Aamir Khan in the hit movie Three Idiots. Wangchuk has also been a vocal advocate for tribal rights in Ladakh and was briefly detained last year by Delhi Police during a protest march.
On Thursday, Indian authorities revoked his non-profit organization’s foreign funding license.
Since 2019, the Modi government has administered Ladakh directly after splitting it from Indian-occupied Kashmir, but New Delhi has yet to fulfill its promise to include the region under the “Sixth Schedule” of India’s constitution, which would allow local communities to make their own laws and policies.
Ladakh also hosts a significant military presence. In 2020, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the region, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
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