The central government has decided to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been held for nearly six months under the National Security Act in Leh.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the decision was taken after due consideration and noted that Wangchuk had already completed nearly half of the detention period permitted under the Act.
In a statement, the ministry said the government remains committed to maintaining peace, stability, and mutual trust in Ladakh and hopes the decision will help facilitate constructive dialogue with stakeholders in the region.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests over statehood and constitutional safeguards left four people dead and about 50 injured, including security personnel, in Leh. The detention order was issued by the district magistrate of Leh to maintain public order, after which Wangchuk was transferred to a prison in Jodhpur.
The activist has been a prominent figure in the ongoing agitation seeking statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. He has also been raising concerns about the effects of climate change on the region’s fragile ecosystem since 2023.
Last year, Wangchuk undertook a 35-day fast to press the demand for statehood and constitutional protection. The protest later turned violent, prompting him to call off the fast, saying his message of pursuing a peaceful path had failed.
His detention triggered criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned the central government’s handling of the protests.
Wangchuk’s wife, educator Gitanjali Angmo, had challenged his detention in the Supreme Court of India. During the hearing, the court raised concerns about the translation of Wangchuk’s speech, which had been cited as grounds for his detention. The court noted that a three-minute speech had been transcribed into a recording lasting seven to eight minutes, suggesting possible malice in the interpretation.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision but said Wangchuk’s 169-day detention was excessively long. In a post on X, Tharoor called on the Supreme Court to establish strict norms for the maximum period of detention without trial, saying indefinite detention was an undemocratic practice inherited from the colonial era.