A day after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and transported to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, his wife confirmed that she has yet to receive a copy of the detention order or establish contact with her husband.
Gitanjali Angmo, Mr. Wangchuk’s wife, recalled being assured by police on September 26, the day of his detention from their village, that she would be able to speak with him upon his arrival in Jodhpur. However, over 24 hours have passed without any communication or official documentation.
‘No Response from Police’
Ms. Angmo expressed deep concern for her husband’s well-being, stating, “It has been more than 24 hours. We do not know how he is. They have not even given us a copy of the detention order. The police officials are not responding to my calls. If I do not hear from them for another day, I will move court.” Ms. Angmo is also the co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternate Studies (HIAL) in Ladakh, an institution whose land registration was recently cancelled and is currently under investigation for alleged foreign funds rule violations.
Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and co-convenor of the Leh Apex Body (LAB)—the key organization advocating for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh over the past five years—confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been urged to ensure Mr. Wangchuk’s safety.
The National Security Act (NSA) permits the detention of an individual for up to one year based on executive orders, without the need for a court trial, if deemed a threat to national security or public order.
The civil society leader also challenged the police’s narrative of “foreign involvement” in the protests. He noted that several members of the youth wing and the vice-president of the LBA voluntarily surrendered in court on Saturday, and reiterated calls for a judicial inquiry into the fatalities that occurred during the unrest.
No Anti-National Views: Lakruk
Mr. Lakruk dismissed claims of foreign instigation, stating that attributing the violence to Nepalese individuals, many of whom reside and work in the region, is implausible. He questioned how a foreigner could mobilize 5,000 young people in just two days in Leh, a small city closely monitored by various security agencies including the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and the Army. He asserted that the sentiment was not anti-national but rather the frustration of the youth, leading to their anger and the torching of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office.
Mr. Wangchuk and fifteen other individuals were on the 15th day of a 35-day hunger strike in Leh when violent protests erupted on September 24. This resulted in the deaths of four civilians and injuries to 140 people.
The LAB had previously explained that the youth wing initiated a shutdown after two elderly protestors were hospitalized on September 23, which then led to an unprecedented number of young people joining the protest site the following day.
Among the twelve individuals who surrendered in court on Saturday were two Congress councillors, Stanzin Tsepaq from Upper Leh and Smanla Dorje Nurboo from Saspol.
While most of those who surrendered were sent to judicial custody, the two Congress councillors, along with Rigzin Dorjey (vice-president of LBA) and Tsewang Dorjey (village head of Tinmozgang), were placed in police custody.
Shafi Lassu, president of the Leh Bar Association, reported that police have registered cases under Sections 192 (rioting), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), leading to the arrest of over 40 individuals. He added that even laborers from Bihar and Doda (Jammu & Kashmir) have been apprehended and labeled as rioters.