Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Moves Supreme Court Against Activist’s Detention

New Delhi, Oct 2025 : Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has approached the Supreme Court with a writ petition challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

In a social media post announcing her move, Angmo said she had filed a Habeas Corpus petition seeking immediate relief. “It has been one week since Wangchuk’s detention, yet I have no information about his health, the conditions he is being kept in, or the grounds for his detention,” she wrote.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has accused Wangchuk of inciting violence in Leh town. The activist, who had been on a hunger strike since September 10 to press for Ladakh’s political demands, reportedly broke his fast and left the protest site in an ambulance when violence broke out. He was later detained under the NSA and transferred to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.

Wangchuk’s detention has sparked widespread criticism, with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — key groups leading the agitation for Ladakh’s statehood and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — demanding his unconditional release, along with the release of others detained on September 24. The groups have also sought accountability for the firing incident that claimed four civilian lives.

The victims were identified as Jigmet Dorjey of Kharnak, Rinchen Dadul of Hanu, Stanzin Namgail of Igoo, and Tsewang Tharchin of Skurbucha.

According to the Union Territory administration, the security forces opened fire in self-defence after protesters allegedly pelted stones and set a CRPF vehicle on fire in an attempt to burn alive the personnel inside. Officials said the mob also torched the local BJP office and the LAB office, while the vehicle of Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal was attacked. The police chief narrowly escaped with minor injuries.

Despite the government’s stance, pressure is mounting from civil society groups, activists, and political organizations for Wangchuk’s release and a peaceful resolution to Ladakh’s political aspirations. The detention of the internationally acclaimed activist has also drawn national attention, with rights groups questioning the use of the NSA against a non-violent campaigner.

As the Supreme Court takes up Angmo’s petition, the case is expected to intensify the debate over democratic rights, civil liberties, and the future political status of Ladakh.