On the day of the 24 September 2025 violence in Leh, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a clip of Sonam Wangchuk that he said showed the activist telling protesters to come masked and hooded. The claim is false: the full video shows Wangchuk suggesting masks as a COVID-19 precaution for a large prayer meeting, weeks before the violence.
Claim: Wangchuk urged protesters to come masked and hooded to hide their identity, showing the Leh violence was planned.
Said by: BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and other X accounts, on 24 September 2025.
What the record shows: The clip is from an 8 September 2025 video inviting people to an interfaith prayer meeting, where he advised masks against COVID-19 and caps against the sun. Alt News
Where the claim came from
On 24 September 2025 a shutdown in Leh backing Ladakh's demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule protection turned violent. The BJP office was set on fire and police fired on the crowd, killing four people. HRW Government's position The Home Ministry said a mob "instigated by his provocative speeches" left Wangchuk's hunger-strike venue. ETV Bharat
Claim · Amit Malviya The same day, Malviya posted a clip on X alleging that Wangchuk had instigated protesters and "urged them to come masked and hooded". The right-wing account @MumbaichaDon posted that "in an undated video" Wangchuk could be seen "urging protesters to come masked & hooded to hide identification". Alt News said several other users amplified the claim. It did not report view counts. Alt News
What the evidence shows
Documented Alt News found the full 17-minute video on the YouTube channel Achoe Nyingstam, uploaded on 8 September 2025. The clipped portion starts at 15:50. Wangchuk was inviting people to a Sarva Dharm Prarthana Sabha (interfaith prayer meeting) in Leh two days later and warning that a large crowd was expected. Alt News
In the full video he raises COVID-19 as a health risk in crowds and says: "To prevent oneself from contracting COVID, one could wear masks and caps." He adds that "the youth could also wear a hoodie." Earlier in the same video he says: "We need to gather peacefully and register our protest." Alt News
The video predates both the 35-day hunger strike, which began on 10 September, and the 24 September violence. Alt News published on 1 October 2025 and rated the claim false, concluding that nothing in the clip urges people to conceal their identity. Alt News
Context
Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act on 26 September 2025 and held for about 170 days. In the Supreme Court, the Centre argued that his Gandhian references were a "facade" and that he pushed youth towards Nepal-style unrest, citing his speeches. LiveLaw Wangchuk denied inciting anyone and said he had appealed for calm. Al Jazeera The full record is on our Ladakh protests page.
Questions people ask
Why did Sonam Wangchuk mention masks?
In an 8 September 2025 video inviting people to a prayer meeting, he suggested masks to avoid COVID-19 in a large crowd, and caps or hoodies against the sun.
Who shared the Wangchuk masks clip?
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and other X accounts, on 24 September 2025, the day of the Leh violence.
Was Wangchuk charged over the Leh violence?
He was detained under the NSA, which is preventive detention, not a criminal charge. The detention was revoked on 14 March 2026.
Sources
- Alt News: Amit Malviya shares clipped Wangchuk video out of context, 1 Oct 2025
- HRW: India, 4 dead in protests over Ladakh statehood, 25 Sept 2025
- ETV Bharat: Centre blames Sonam Wangchuk for Leh violence, 24 Sept 2025
- LiveLaw: Centre to Supreme Court on Wangchuk, 2025
- Al Jazeera: Indian police arrest Ladakh activist after deadly protests, 26 Sept 2025
