By Ira Deshpande
The Centre has cancelled the FCRA licence of the Students’ Educational and Cultural
Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). The institute was founded by activist and educator Sonam
Wangchuk. The cancellation comes after the CBI started a probe into alleged violations of
foreign funding laws.
The investigation also covers the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL). Both
institutions are linked to Wangchuk. No FIR has been filed yet, but CBI officials have been in
Ladakh for over a week. They are examining financial documents and records. According to
the Home Ministry, SECMOL received foreign contributions without proper clearance under the FCRA.
Wangchuk has rejected these allegations. He said the money
came from collaborations with global organisations. These included the United Nations, a
Swiss university, and an Italian group. He insisted the projects were for knowledge-sharing
and that all taxes were paid.
Wangchuk also noted that investigators first asked for records from 2022 to 2024. Later, they
demanded accounts from 2020 and 2021. Some requests even involved a school that was not
part of the original complaint.
The activist stressed that SECMOL and HIAL focus on education for Ladakhi youth. Both
institutions provide free learning opportunities and offer stipends to needy students. He
argued that the investigation was an attempt to undermine work being done for the
community.
Wangchuk pointed out that this was not the first challenge he had faced recently. A sedition
case against him was reopened. Land lease disputes over HIAL resurfaced. The Income Tax
Department sent notices. Old complaints about wages also came back. He described the
situation as pressure “from all sides.”
Meanwhile, the political climate in Ladakh remains tense. Protests for statehood turned
violent in Leh this week. Demonstrators stormed the BJP offices and the Hill Council
building. Vehicles were set on fire. Police used tear gas to control the unrest.