Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested Friday by a police party here, two days after violent protests by supporters of the movement for statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule of Constitution left four persons dead and 90 others injured, officials said. The arrest of the 59-year-old Mr. Wangchuk came two days after violent protests broke out in Leh town.

The home ministry had blamed Wangchuk, a senior member of Leh Apex Body (LAB) which along with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) is spearheading the agitation in support of the demands for the past over five years, for provocation leading to the violence. Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike in support of the demands, however, denied the charges. He denounced the violence and also ended the fortnight-long fast following the violence on Wednesday.

Officials said a team led by Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP) S.D. Jamwal arrested Mr. Wangchuk from Leh. Official sources said Mr. Wangchuk was scheduled to address the media after 2 p.m. but was denied permission. The charges levelled against Mr. Wangchuk could not be confirmed immediately.

Internet service suspended in Leh; all schools and colleges have been closed till September 27 in Leh. Protesters, mainly youth, resorted to violence at the BJP headquarters and the Secretariat of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh (LAHDC-Leh). Four civilians were killed and 90 others were injured in security forces action against the protesters.

The violence broke out on the 15th day of hunger strike of Mr. Wangchuk and his associates. He was on a three-week hunger strike to press for the early resumption of talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and representatives of Ladakh to have “result oriented” dialogue on key demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule. However, Mr. Wangchuk called off his hunger strike after the violence broke out and called for peace in the region.

Meanwhile, Ladakh Member of Parliament Haji Hanifa condemned the arrest. “If Mr. Wangchuk has been arrested for his peaceful agitation, we condemn the same,” Mr. Hanifa said. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Mr. Wangchuk’s arrest was unfortunate but not surprising. “What’s difficult to understand is why the Centre has failed to fulfil its promises,” Mr. Abdullah said. Congress leader G.A. Mir said the move to arrest “honourable and Gandhian activist is unwarranted.”