Activist Sonam Wangchuk freed as Centre revokes detention after 6 months

The decision comes days before a hearing in the Supreme Court on March 17; the court had indicated last week that this would be the final hearing in the matter. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, had moved a habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court challenging his detention.

Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after the protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution rocked Leh. The government had accused Wangchuk of inciting the protests. The NSA empowers governments to act pre-emptively against individuals seen as a threat to public order or national security.

Wangchuk was later transferred to Jodhpur central jail. The MHA statement on Saturday said that he has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the NSA.

Defending its use of the NSA, the Ladakh administration had told the Supreme Court earlier that due process was “faithfully and strictly” followed. In an affidavit, the Leh District Magistrate had said the detention order was passed after “subjective satisfaction” that Wangchuk’s activities were prejudicial to the security of the State and the maintenance of public order, and that all constitutional safeguards were observed.

“In the backdrop of the serious law and order situation that arose in the peace-loving town of Leh on September 24, Sonam Wangchuk was detained on September 26 under NSA, pursuant to an order issued by the District Magistrate, Leh, with a view to maintaining public order. Wangchuk has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the NSA,” the MHA statement said on Saturday.

“The government has been actively engaging with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh with a view to addressing the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region. However, the prevailing atmosphere of bandhs and protests has been detrimental to the peace-loving character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists and the overall economy,” it said.

“The government reiterates its commitment to providing all necessary safeguards for Ladakh. It remains hopeful that the issues concerning the region will be resolved through constructive engagement and dialogue, including through the mechanism of the High-Powered Committee as well as other appropriate platforms,” it said.

Earlier, a day after his detention, the then Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP), Shiv Darshan Singh Jamwal, had said: “Sonam Wangchuk, if you see his profile, his history — you can see that on YouTube. He instigates. He talks about the Arab Spring, talks about Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He has an agenda. As far as foreign funding is concerned, a process is already underway. There is a case of FCRA violation…. We had arrested a Pakistani POI, who was with him… who was reporting about him and sending that across. We have a record of this. We have, like Pakistan, (a record of) where he went and did an event of (Pakistani newspaper) Dawn, and after that Bangladesh. All this puts a big question mark on him.”

Jamwal was later transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, and 1996-batch IPS officer Mukesh Singh was appointed as the new Ladakh DGP. In another change, Ashish Kundra, a 1996-batch IAS officer, was appointed as the new Ladakh Chief Secretary.

More recently, Vinai Kumar Saxena, former Delhi Lieutenant Governor, has been appointed as the Ladakh L-G. In a post on X on Saturday, Saxena welcomed the decision to revoke Wangchuk’s detention as “a positive step by the Centre towards fostering an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh”. He said “there is no space for agitation and violence in Ladakh and all issues pertaining to the aspirations and concerns of the people, would be addressed through dialogue with various stakeholders, community leaders and citizens”.