Climate Activist Sona Wangchuk Detained Under NSA Amid Ladakh’s Push for Sixth Schedule Autonomy

Wangchuk’s arrest follows a dramatic breakdown in relations with the central government. Once celebrated for his passive solar-heated buildings and visionary Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), he saw the land allotment for HIAL revoked, a Central Bureau of Investigation probe launched, and the institute’s foreign collaboration license canceled. Undeterred, he staged a 15-day hunger strike pressing for statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion, sparking students and activists to join his call for robust regional autonomy.

On the fifteenth day of his fast, a confrontation between protesters and security forces left four civilians dead and dozens injured. Authorities accused Wangchuk of incendiary remarks that “provoked violence,” justifying his NSA detention—an extraordinary measure allowing custody without trial for up to a year. Before his arrest, Wangchuk warned, “A Wangchuk in jail may cause more problems than a free Sonam Wangchuk.”

Ladakh’s Sixth Schedule demand centers on its 97 percent tribal population, fragile ecosystem, and unique Buddhist-Muslim culture. Under Article 244 of the Indian Constitution, Sixth Schedule autonomous district councils grant legislative powers over land, forests, agriculture, and village policing. Currently applied only in Northeast states, extending this protection to Ladakh would require a constitutional amendment—an uphill political battle.

Residents fear that without Sixth Schedule safeguards, new domicile laws could erode land rights, jobs, and cultural identity. Talks between Union representatives and Ladakh’s apex bodies are scheduled for October 6, but trust is fractured. As Wangchuk remains in detention and the region grapples with loss and unrest, Ladakh’s future autonomy hinges on New Delhi’s willingness to embrace sweeping constitutional change.