Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of the renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, made a heartfelt appeal to President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. She is urgently seeking the President’s intervention to secure her husband’s release. Mr. Wangchuk has been held in Jodhpur jail, Rajasthan, since his detention after the violent clashes that erupted in Ladakh on September 24.
In a detailed three-page letter, Ms. Angmo vehemently alleged a “witch-hunt” against her husband. She emphasized that his detention stems from his dedicated advocacy for the people of Ladakh over the last four years. She also expressed deep concern and frustration over her complete lack of information regarding his current well-being.
“We earnestly request the unconditional release of Wangchuk,” stated Ms. Angmo in her representation, which was forwarded through the Deputy Commissioner, Leh. She asserted that her husband is not a threat to anyone, least of all the nation. “He has dedicated his life to serving the brave people of Ladakh and stands firmly in solidarity with the Indian Army in defending our great nation,” she added.
Mr. Wangchuk was formally detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26. This occurred just two days after fierce clashes in Leh town resulted in four fatalities and numerous injuries. The unrest had erupted amidst widespread protests advocating for key demands, including statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Ms. Angmo described Mr. Wangchuk’s detention as “illegal,” recounting that she was merely informed of it by a station house officer.
“I was assured that the officer would explain my legal rights, but even that hasn’t happened to this day. I am utterly shocked and devastated,” she expressed. She further highlighted that her husband was not even permitted to take his clothes when he was taken into custody.
“I have no knowledge of whether he has received fresh clothes or basic necessities, including the daily medicines he requires, particularly after his physically debilitating 15-day fast in September,” she stated with grave concern.
Condemning his treatment as “deplorable,” Ms. Angmo pointed out that Mr. Wangchuk has consistently advocated for climate change awareness, educational reforms, and grassroots innovation. For the past four years, he has peacefully championed the development of Ladakh, an ecologically fragile, backward tribal region, always employing Gandhian principles.
“To treat a son of Ladakh’s soil so poorly is not only a moral wrong but also a strategic misstep for fostering strong borders built on solidarity and peaceful coexistence,” she remarked. She also reminded authorities that Mr. Wangchuk has actively contributed to national security by constructing shelters for Indian Army officers and jawans.
She questioned whether it was a crime to oppose “reckless and unchecked development activities” in Ladakh’s sensitive ecosystem. “This country has recently learned harsh lessons from the experiences of Uttarakhand, Himachal, and the North East,” she noted, appealing to the President’s personal background. “As someone from a tribal community, you would undoubtedly understand the sentiments of the people of Ladakh better than anyone,” she concluded.
Ms. Angmo, who serves as the founder and CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), also disclosed that she has been placed under CRPF surveillance. She cited a communication from the Special Investigation Team’s in-charge requesting comprehensive details of HIAL’s students and staff.
Furthermore, she revealed that two other members of the institute were taken into custody just three days prior.