The wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk has moved a Habeas Corpus petition before the Supreme Court challenging his arrest following the violent protests in Ladakh which resulted in four deaths. As per the top court’s official page, petitioner Gitanjali J. Angmo filed her petition on the evening of October 2. In a post on the microblogging site X, she wrote, “I have sought relief from the SUPREME COURT OF INDIA through a HABEAS CORPUS petition against Wangchuk's detention. It is one week today. Still, I have no information about Sonam Wangchuk's health, the condition he is in, nor the grounds of detention." The court is currently on Dussehra vacation and will reopen on October 6, when her lawyers are likely to urge the court for an urgent hearing. Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26 after being accused of instigating the protests demanding statehood for Ladakh, which turned violent, leading to four deaths in police firing in Leh on September 24. The protests also left 50 injured. The NSA, 1980, empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India, relations with foreign powers, the security of India, or the maintenance of public order or essential supplies.” District Magistrates and Police Commissioners can also exercise these powers when authorised. Unlike an arrest under criminal law, NSA detention is preventive, not punitive—it is designed to prevent an individual from committing an act deemed harmful. Following Wangchuk’s arrest, Apex Body, Leh, and Kargil Democratic Alliance, the two organisations negotiating with the government on Ladakh matters, pulled out of the talks, claiming political motives behind the government’s move. The Ladakh administration, however, has dismissed allegations of political vendetta, rejecting claims that Wangchuk is being targeted in a “witch-hunt” or as part of a “smokescreen” operation. The Centre also issued a statement, saying: “The Government has always been open for dialogues on Ladakh matters with Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) at any time. We would continue to welcome the discussion with ABL and KDA through the HPC on Ladakh or any such platform.”
