The Centre has revoked the detention of Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, nearly six months after the Ladakh activist was arrested amid protests in Ladakh.
The decision comes just days before the Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear a plea filed by his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging the detention. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P. B. Varale is set to take up the matter on March 17.
Wangchuk had been detained on September 26 following violent protests in Leh two days earlier, which reportedly led to four deaths in police firing. Authorities had invoked the NSA citing concerns over public order in the otherwise peaceful town.
According to the government, Wangchuk has already spent nearly half the maximum detention period permitted under the law.
In its statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the decision was taken after reviewing the situation and engaging with local stakeholders. The Centre also expressed hope that revoking the detention would help restore normalcy and enable constructive dialogue on Ladakh’s concerns through institutional mechanisms and discussions with community leaders.
