Centre revokes NSA; Sonam Wangchuk walks free in Ladakh
Centre revokes NSA; Sonam Wangchuk walks free in Ladakh
Centre revokes detention under NSA and releases activist Sonam Wangchuk after legal review, signaling a shift in Ladakh's political landscape and prompting mixed reactions.
An end to weeks of uncertainty came on Saturday as the Centre revoked Sonam Wangchuk's detention under the National Security Act and ordered his release. The 59-year-old activist, known for his role in Ladakh's statehood movement, walked out of a Jodhpur jail in the early afternoon after the central government issued the order. Wangchuk’s release follows a legal process that saw his wife challenge the detention in the Supreme Court and a court review of the translated versions of his speeches. The development marks a significant turn in Ladakh's political climate as calls for greater autonomy have been a focal point for years.
On Saturday, the Home Ministry issued a statement saying the detention was revoked with immediate effect after due consideration, emphasizing the government's pledge to foster peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh. The statement framed the decision as part of a broader objective to create an environment conducive to dialogue and development. It also noted that the release was contingent on legal and procedural steps and the ongoing court proceedings. Officials who spoke to the press in Jodhpur confirmed that Wangchuk was released around 1:30 PM.
Wangchuk, a 2018 Magsaysay Award winner and a leading voice in the Ladakh statehood movement, was detained on September 26 after protests demanding autonomy turned violent, leaving several dead and dozens injured. The Centre blamed him for provoking the unrest, a charge long contested by supporters who say the detention was used to curb dissent. Detention under NSA allows authorities to hold individuals without formal charges for up to a year, subject to review. The government’s move to revoke it now ends a contentious legal battle that stretched through the Supreme Court, with the next hearing previously set for March 17.
Reaction from Wangchuk's wife and supporters has been swift. Gitanjali Angmo filed a petition challenging the detention in the Supreme Court, and leaders sympathetic to the Ladakh autonomy movement welcomed the release as a potential opening for dialogue. Critics, however, argued that the NSA tool remains a controversial instrument that should be used sparingly and only with stringent oversight. The release does not erase broader tensions in the region, but it does prevent further escalation and allows space for political dialogue and community healing in Ladakh.
