In New Delhi, India, Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, turned to the Supreme Court on Friday. She filed a habeas corpus petition demanding her husband’s immediate release from detention.
Sonam Wangchuk faces charges under the National Security Act (NSA). Authorities moved him to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan after accusing him of stirring up violent protests in Ladakh. The arrest followed deadly clashes in Leh, where four people lost their lives and 80 others suffered injuries.
Gitanjali shared her worries in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I have sought relief from the Supreme Court of India through a habeas corpus petition against @Wangchuk66’s detention,” she wrote. “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 post included an image and came on October 3.
She has been vocal about the situation in Ladakh. Earlier, Gitanjali criticized the central government and accused police of torturing locals after violence erupted on September 24. She drew a stark comparison to British colonial rule. “Is India really free? In 1857, 24,000 Britishers used 135,000 Indian sepoys to oppress 300 million Indians under orders from the Queen,” she posted on X. “Today, a dozen administrators are misusing 2,400 Ladakhi police to oppress and torture 3 lakh Ladakhis under the orders of the MHA” (Ministry of Home Affairs).
Her comments come as Leh remains under curfew following the September 24 unrest. Protests there started peacefully, with demonstrators calling for Ladakh statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Tensions boiled over when protesters set fire to a political party office, leading to clashes with police and deadly firing.
Gitanjali also rejected claims that Wangchuk contacted a Pakistani intelligence operative. She accused the Ladakh police of pushing an agenda to block Sixth Schedule implementation and using her husband as a scapegoat. “Whatever the DGP is saying, he has an agenda,” she said. “They don’t want to implement the Sixth Schedule under any circumstances and want to make someone a scapegoat.”
To fight for his release, Gitanjali sent urgent pleas to top leaders, including the President of India, Prime Minister, Home Minister, Law Minister, Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor, and the Deputy Commissioner of Leh.
The Ladakh protests highlight ongoing demands for greater autonomy and safeguards for the region’s unique environment and culture. Wangchuk, a well-known climate activist, has long championed these issues in the fragile Himalayan area. ()
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