In a dramatic escalation following violent protests in Ladakh, the Union Home Ministry has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), an NGO founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The move comes just 24 hours after four people were killed and over 80 injured in clashes during a bandh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for the region 1][2].
The Ministry cited “repeated violations” of foreign funding norms and accused Wangchuk of inciting unrest through provocative statements. A preliminary inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already flagged alleged irregularities in foreign remittances and undeclared bank accounts linked to SECMOL and Wangchuk’s other ventures, including the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) [4].
Protest Flashpoint
- The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) led the shutdown, demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh’s tribal and ecological identity.
- Protesters torched BJP offices, police vehicles, and blocked major roads.
- Curfew was imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, banning gatherings of five or more people.
Wangchuk Responds
Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a 15-day hunger strike, called off the fast citing fears of further escalation. “My message of the peaceful path failed today,” he said in a video posted on X, urging youth to stop the violence and reaffirming that no political party was behind the agitation 2][6].
He also denied wrongdoing, stating that SECMOL had not sought foreign funds and that payments from international institutions were for knowledge-sharing and taxed appropriately. Wangchuk described the government’s action as “witch hunting” and warned that it could derail genuine democratic demands [6].