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Ladakh Activist Wangchuk Arrested: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested by Ladakh Police on Friday amid an investigation into his role in the violent protests in Leh, which claimed four lives and left several injured. His arrest comes day after he called the home ministry's charge that he instigated the recent violent protests in Ladakh a "scapegoat tactic" intended to avoid dealing with the Himalayan region's core problems. The activist, who has been leading the peaceful agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, also raised the alarm over his personal safety.

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Reacting to the MHA's statement, which had blamed him for provoking the mob violence, the environment activist said he was prepared to be arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).

"To say it was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere. They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat, but they are not wise. At this time, we all need wisdom rather than 'cleverness' because youths are already frustrated," Wangchuk said.

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"I see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years," he said, adding, "I am ready for that, but Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than free Sonam Wangchuk."

The statehood for Ladakh movement led by Wangchuk descended into violence, arson and street clashes in Leh on Wednesday, leaving four people dead and at least 80 injured, including 40 police personnel, officials said.

The activist attributed the eruption of anger to long-standing grievances, primarily the frustration among the region's youth and reasoned that the real cause is the "frustration of six years of unemployment and unmet promises at every level."

What Are The Demand Of Protesters?

The activist accused the government of misleading the public by claiming success on partial job reservations, noting that the main demands for Statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to protect Ladakh's tribal status and fragile environment remain "untouched after five years of peaceful appeals.

Scapegoat Tactic: Wangchuk Accuses Centre After Protests

Wangchuk said that by employing the "scapegoat tactic," the government is "not actually taking measures for peace," but instead taking steps that will "further aggravate" the situation by diverting attention from the people's core demands. As the sun set on what is arguably the worst day of violence since 1989 in the cold desert region, Wangchuk called off his fortnight-long hunger strike to press for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, while authorities clamped curfew in the Leh district.

(With PTI inputs)